Introducing VERY WELL QoL!
A message from Dr. David Meredith, D.Ac.
In all of the fuss around the recent expansion of Very Well, one particular detail may have gotten lost in the discussion. But at a recent movie premiere, my friend "K" cut through the hoopla and got straight to the point.
"Why did you do this?" she asked when I finished describing some the finishing touches I was working on, her eyes penetrating to my soul. The question was not quite from out of the blue, and not quite out of the the cocktails we had just shared. A year ago, over coffee, just as my business planning was taking off, she had asked the same kind of question with great concern. "Why are you thinking about this? You've worked so hard to get to where you are. Shouldn't you savor it?"
Excellent questions. Questions I, too, would have asked anyone I was concerned about.
What my dear friend knew was that the previous few years had been harder on me than I generally let on. The pandemic had wreaked havoc on my mind and business model, and I had devoted the major portion of my energy to helping my clients navigate those same forces. Burning out, I actually cut my hours nearly in half and began taking several extended trips per year in an attempt to get my energy back. Exhausted, indecisive, and unable to focus as my middle 50s loomed closer, I began casting around for ways to change careers or even retire early. I was done.
So how did I get from nearing rock bottom in 2022 to planning and executing a major business expansion, including the excruciating work of securing financing, lease negotiations, marketing, moving, training, staff changes, and more than doubling my working hours by early 2024?
The convergence of two major forces:
1. I began asking myself a series of serious questions – and getting a series of serious answers – about my purpose in life and what I want to accomplish for the world during these complicated times we live in. It was during this inquiry that I was inspired to redefine the mission of Very Well, and believe me, you'll be hearing more about this soon! (This was the answer to K's question, by the way.) And I had the focus, motivation, and energy to do that because...
2. I began experimenting with combining senolytics and PEMF. This is what I want to talk to you about today.
What Are Senolytics?
Senolytics are a new category of supplement or medication developed to address the problem of cellular senescence. This is when our living cells permanently stop dividing but do not die off. In healthy tissues, senescent cells are readily eliminated by the body. But as we age, more and more of them linger and accumulate. These affect the normal function of our tissues over time and are thought to be a source of many age-related issues, including cognitive decline, chronic inflammation, reduced immune function, longer wound healing, and lower energy levels.
Senolytics are a major focus of the latest anti-aging research. They have been developed to destroy the lingering senescent cells, "creating room" in tissues for fully functional, more youthful cells. These can promote whole-body rejuvenation.
Somewhere around 18 months ago, grasping at straws, I began taking a monthly dose of senolotic supplements from a company called Neurohacker Collective, an early researcher into the science of healthy aging. I recall feeling a little clearer pretty quickly, but since their regimen is to be taken only once every four weeks, it was difficult to pinpoint any particular cause and effect as the feeling came and went.
But by around four months later, I was feeling noticeably and consistently better overall. I realized I had more energy, more drive, and clearer thinking, and I remember a couple of sessions with my journal trying to figure out how I could apply these unexpected new resources to my life. If this was real and lasting – and I wasn't "burned out" anymore – what did that mean for my career and presence in the world?[1]
A couple of months after that, I had the infamous trip to Portugal I've mentioned in previous messages. Already inspired to clarify my mission, I was directly challenged by a colleague to "bring back the great energy" of that vacation to my office, which started me thinking about how I could integrate purpose into a new wellness concept.
And shortly thereafter, I was led to another game-changer: PEMF.
What is PEMF?
PEMF, or pulsed electromagnetic field, is a gentle, relaxing therapy that "exercises" the cells of your body by stimulating their structure and their environment. This in turn stimulates your body's capacity for healing and recovery, and can increase energy levels and systemic health.
If this sounds vague... I agree. It's difficult to make specific claims in this area. But if you have any particular health or wellness concerns, a PubMed search for "PEMF for ________" may turn up numerous studies.[2] It is a very well-documented intervention. (On our website, I extrapolate several potential stand-alone benefits that have been researched and/or reported anecdotally.)
As I was researching therapies for the new Very Well, PEMF was high on my list of possibilities, and the Pulse brand of machine I settled on is widely considered to be the "Rolls Royce" in the field. After seeing a client have an amazing experience with that device, I made an appointment for myself, on what happened to be the same day of the month I took my senolytic and...
I was blown away.
I don't talk like this usually, right? If you know me, you know I tend by nature to have a measured response to things, even if I'm excited. So when I tell you that I had probably never felt so healthy in my life, I'm not exaggerating. I was calm and relaxed, but completely energized. I felt motivated, optimistic, and like everything in my body was flowing the way it should. That night, I slept unusually deeply and my fitness tracker showed my resting heart rate had lowered by ten beats per minute.
I immediately wrote away to Neurohacker Collective to ask if they had encountered this kind of intensified result before, and if there were any studies of synergy between senolytics and PEMF. Their science division responded that animal studies have shown a connection between PEMF and enhanced autophagy,[3] which is a similar natural process to senolytics, and that, in addition to their separate benefits, perhaps the two therapies may indeed amplify each other. As far as they knew, it had not been studied.[4]
(Autophagy, incidentally, is the body's breakdown and recycling of dysfunctional cellular components.)
I scheduled myself for many more PEMF appointments after that, until I was able to purchase my own machine.
So How Do We Put It All Together?
As I continued to plan and execute my business expansion – and continued to feel increasing energy, clarity, and productiveness despite doubling my stress and workload, and (frankly) not getting any younger – I began to develop a secret goal.
And now I can realize it.
Hey, I just happen to have the Rolls Royce of PEMF machines and a brand new bulk sales purchasing agreement with Neurohacker Collective.
Wanna try it?
Because I want everyone to feel as good as I do. We've all got important work to do in this complicated little world of ours.
I have put together an idea I am very, very (in measured tones, of course) excited about...
Introducing VERY WELL QoL
"QoL" means Quality of Life.
In medical terms, QoL is an attempt to measure the well-being of an individual, not just using their health data points but also the sometimes unquantifiable elements that make up their overall existence. How well do you feel – how good do you feel – on every level? Physical, mental, and spiritual? Relationships and daily interactions? Able to get things done? General empowerment?
My work as an acupuncturist has always been about improving people's QoL, using their symptoms as a lens into living well. But guess what insurance companies don't care about? And frankly, guess what stressed-out people in pain, or with systemic issues, or what have you, living in our challenging times – guess what they can't quite motivate themselves to figure out for themselves?
And yet, a high QoL is just what we need the most – that invisible multiplier of our energy, focus, good moods, and immune system function that keeps us well as we age. It's time to prioritize it. It's time to take it seriously. It's time to invest in good practices that will pay off many times over in the long run, keeping the "good stuff" going for longer and just maybe mitigating or warding off the future decline we fear.
VERY WELL QoL is my attempt to get us all started. It is a recurring monthly subscription of:
Neurohacker Collective "Qualia" Senolytic
Three 60-minute PEMF sessions on our Pulse XL Pro
Offered at a greatly reduced price at Very Well.
Separately, the high-quality senolytic costs $79 for a one-time purchase or $69 per month as a long-term subscription. 60-minute PEMF sessions are $110 each. That could add up to $409.
VERY WELL QoL offers the same benefits for $319 per month. But for a short time, as a founding member of this subscription, your cost would be $299 per month.
(And if you are a founding member, this price will never go up for as long as you stay enrolled.)
But That's Not All: There's also VERY WELL QoL(+)
When mentioning to people over the past few months the extensive "anti-aging" benefits I have felt from senolytics and PEMF, many of them have asked one timid question.
"What about appearance?" By which they seem to mean fine lines and wrinkles, sagging skin, hair loss, and any other indicators they are worried about.
Might a combination of senolytics and PEMF alone affect the visible signs of aging?
I think quite possibly, especially if they originate systemically. Many studies show these interventions as beneficial for tissue regeneration.[5]
But guess which delightful new wellness center just happens to feature the premier red light bed in the Baltimore area, offering full-body coverage and more intense lights?
Senolytics and PEMF may each individually have good results for overall tissue regeneration overall (and together, they might be exponential), but red light therapy (photobiomodulation) has been studied for decades as a remedy for aging skin, hair loss, and other visible signs of aging.[6]
(One of the most common pieces of feedback we get at Very Well, daily, is someone who has used our red light therapy bed reporting that people have spontaneously mentioned how good their skin looks: “You look like you’re glowing!”)
Certain wavelengths of light have also been found own their own to reduce pain and inflammation, improve cognition, circulation, and organ health, and have other benefits. (Feel free to check those out on our website.)
If maintaining a more youthful appearance is important to you, you will want to add Very Well's red light therapy to the mix.
Our VERY WELL QoL(+) plan is a recurring monthly subscription that includes:
Neurohacker Collective "Qualia" Senolytic
Three 60-minute PEMF sessions on our Pulse XL Pro
FOUR 16-minute Red Light sessions on our Spectra S5 bed
Offered at a greatly reduced price at Very Well.
Separately, the high-quality senolytic costs $79 for a one-time purchase or $69 per month as a long-term subscription. 60-minute PEMF sessions are $110 each. 16-minute red light sessions are $45 each. That could add up to $589.
VERY WELL QoL(+) offers the same benefits for $439 per month. But for a short time, as a founding member of this subscription, your cost would be $419 per month.
(And again, if you are a founding member, this price will never increase for as long as you stay enrolled.)
Pick Your Program and Sign up Today!
Give it some serious thought. Decide if you can commit to this investment in your improved "QoL" for at least a few months to see maximum results. Then click on one of the following links if you're interested:
VERY WELL QoL
"Qualia" Senolytic Supplement + Three 60-minute PEMF sessions per month
Retail $409/month
Regular Subscription Rate $319/month
Founder's Rate $299/month
Click Here to Sign Up for VERY WELL QoL
VERY WELL QoL(+)
"Qualia" Senolytic Supplement + Three 60-minute PEMF sessions + FOUR Red Light sessions per month
Retail $589
Regular Subscription Rate $439
Founder's Rate $419/month
Click Here to Sign Up for VERY WELL QoL(+)
***The founder's rates are available for only a short time AND we are limiting the numbers of subscriptions we sell overall due to capacity issues. So, yes, give it some good thought AND act quickly if you can.***
Once again, I'm not a salesman. I'm not comfortable getting into the realm of "marketing-speak." I don't promote anything unless I've seen it work. In this case, I not only EXPERIENCED it working, the results changed the trajectory of my life in a way that hasn't happened since I first got into acupuncture in the late 1990s.
I'm doing my best to put together the most effective and affordable option for anyone who feels like they'd like to experience more energy, more focus, a more uplifted mood, better immunity, less pain and inflammation, healthier aging, and even (with the [+] option) to reduce the visible signs of aging.
If you don't have the bandwidth to figure out all of this for yourself, let it be easy. Let us help you get better.
(And please read the FAQs about these programs below for more details.)
—Dr. David Meredith, D.Ac.
P.S. Don't forget to check out the related studies in the notes below. Number 4, which I didn't mention above for what will be obvious reasons, is really amazing.
FAQs
How do the VERY WELL QoL and QoL(+) subscriptions work?
As a founding member, your card on file will be charged either $299 or $419 every month on the same date as your sign-up. You will have until your next charge to schedule your included appointments at your convenience. You can pick up the senolytic supplement at an appointment or any other time the office is open.
The allotted PEMF or red light appointments will automatically be connected to your account. When you arrive for them, just let us know that you're a QoL member and you won't be charged anything else for that visit.
What is the Neurohacker Collective "Qualia" Senolytic like?
The supplement consists of 12 capsules, taken over two consecutive days per month (six per day). From Neurohacker Collective's web site: "Qualia's science team has been researching the emerging science of senolytic ingredients since their discovery in 2015. The artful blend of nine of the most researched senolytics in precise and complementary dosages led to the promising results of Qualia Senolytic's double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. These nine ingredients are at the absolute frontier of nutritionally optimizing human aging." The natural ingredients are: "Quercefit" quercetin phytosome, fisetin, luteolin, "Longvida Optimized Curcumin" extract, piperlongumine (from piper longum root extract), "Senactiv" (a patented blend of notoginseng root and chestnut rose hips), olive leaf extract, milk thistle fruit extract, and soybean seed extract.[7]
When should I schedule my visits?
Whatever works best for your timing, although you may want to experiment with overlapping a PEMF appointment with at least one of the days you take the senolytic. PEMF is a cumulative therapy and works over time, but can also have some immediate effects. Red light therapy visits should be roughly once per week. In a QoL(+) subscription, you MAY combine PEMF with red light in a single visit if you like.
Why a subscription? Why is it set up like this?
Because I want it to have the best value and the best chance of working! This is an investment into your current and future well-being, and these therapies work best OVER TIME and ACCUMULATED over the long term. The absolute last thing I want to hear about any service I offer at Very Well is that "it didn't work." But 90% of the time, "it didn't work" because people didn't take it seriously, or didn't do it enough to make a difference.
A subscription eliminates the guesswork in your routine and reinforces the commitment to the process.
What is a PEMF/red light session like?
These are both gentle and soothing interventions.
In a PEMF appointment, you will lie on a comfortable, contoured mattress that is filled with electromagnetic coils. Activating those feels like a light tingling in the body. You will not need to remove any clothing except for your shoes. The powerful Pulse unit does have a cooling fan that provides a pleasant white noise. Many people (myself included) feel a wave of relaxation as they're lying there.
In a red light therapy appointment, you will disrobe and lie in a bed that concentrates the wavelengths on your body from all directions. It is very bright, so you may want to wear the provided dark glasses, but many or even most people just close their eyes. Because this therapy is so potent, the session is actually quite short (16 minutes), and many also find it quite relaxing, like lying in the warm sun. You may use your own headphones if you'd like to listen to music.
In the QoL(+) subscription, why are there three PEMF sessions but four red light sessions?
Remember, we’re trying to do what works. While we'd like to minimize your need to visit the office, and you may combine these sessions into one appointment if the availability exists, we feel that red light needs to be done at least once weekly for the maximum effect. The PEMF is a more deeply penetrating treatment that may "hold" for longer.
Will this subscription help with my specific medical condition?
It might very well! It might not! I always encourage mindful observation and tracking of your symptoms over time. With any holistic medicine, it's difficult to predict the specific ways it may work, or the order in which things could get better. Those are specific to your condition and lifestyle. You may also (or instead) need the more targeted intervention of acupuncture at Very Well, or even to consult with your own doctor.
You're an acupuncturist. Is this Chinese medicine?
Not according to the regulations in the State of Maryland. From my personal perspective, technically, EVERYTHING is Chinese medicine, because the philosophies at the core of it describe the movements of life. EVERYTHING is relatively Yin or Yang, or leans in one of the five seasonal directions that make up the core of that medical system. But while I have numerous ideas and theories about how these therapies "fit in" with acupuncture and Chinese medicine, I must be clear that according to my scope of practice in Maryland, I cannot and do not offer them under my licensure, merely as a private citizen who has researched and invested in them, and has had positive experiences with them.
Can I get the components of these therapies elsewhere?
Sure. Tons of companies offer senolytics these days, at every price point, or you could buy the supplements directly from Neurohacker Collective. There are other wellness centers in the area that offer PEMF or red light therapy (not as good as ours, but what can I say), and there are plenty of underpowered home versions available in the world. But I can't vouch for any of those. My entire goal is to put together the most effective combination, with the highest value, at the lowest price possible for that quality – and to help you maintain the regimen and monitor your progress.
Can I cancel the subscription if I don't like it?
Of course. I want to make this as simple a choice as possible. You can cancel anytime. You won't be charged for the next month, and that will be that. However, once again, do keep in mind that the results are INCREMENTAL, so please give things a few months to start consistently working for you.
What if I don't use all of the visits in a month?
One of my internal goals is to be able to consistently schedule the services at Very Well, and I just can't have rollover appointments blocking other people from scheduling their normal sessions. So this is one thing we will have to be strict about: use them in your allotted month, or you will lose them. (But that said, it may be possible to pause your subscription for a period and still maintain your original pricing. Please talk to us about it if that's necessary.)
May I relax in the Very Well lounge before, after, or between my appointments?
Absolutely! Use the lounge to contemplate, read, chat quietly, or sip some tea. Another great contributor to a higher QoL is stress reduction and taking some peaceful time out for yourself.
Are results guaranteed?
Well, no. No medical or wellness result of any kind can ever be guaranteed. Research and anecdotal evidence lean toward the program having an effect, however. Results will vary based on numerous factors. Be sure to check out the disclaimer on the sign-up page.
Does health insurance cover this program?
Unfortunately not, but you may be able to use your HSA or FSA benefits. Very Well is able to process those cards.
Who should participate in this program?
Anyone who is concerned about losing their edge as they age, due to lower energy, mental decline, brain fog, weakened immunity, slower healing, stiffness, inflammation, or other factors.
Anyone who wishes to maintain youthful vigor, strength, and appearance for longer.
Anyone who wants to improve their quality of life in stressful times.
Who shouldn't participate?
Anyone who is pregnant or nursing. Anyone who has a medical condition that has not been evaluated by their physician. Anyone who has any internal medical devices, such as a pacemaker or cochlear implant, or any magnetic implant rated "not suitable for MRI." Anyone who has had an organ transplant.
Anyone who is sensitive or allergic to any of the ingredients in the Neurohacker Collective "Qualia" Senolytic. Anyone who is taking medications that may interact poorly with this supplement (please consult your doctor or pharmacist).
Notes
1. Neurohacker Collective performed clinical trials on their "Qualia" Senolytic for efficacy and satisfaction. In a pilot study, they found an average decrease of 51% of difficulty performing daily activities in adults between 32 and 66 years of age. In a placebo-controlled clinical study, they found significant decreases with joint issues, and a significant increase in health-related quality of life in adults between 35 and 79. Another pilot study found that 89% of adults between 29 and 58 found improvements in their health and health-related quality of life. Keep in mind that these are corporate-sponsored studies, however this study in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition and this one in the journal Science generally bear out the concept.
2. There are too many PEMF studies to cite here, and I urge you to look into this exciting therapy. For example, this study on the effect of PEMF on bone and joint formation, including regeneration, is interesting; as is this one in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences on PEMF in physiological response and its potential in trauma treatments.
3. I was actually able to find two studies on PEMF in the process of autophagy. The animal study is here. But this article on PEMF, autophagy, and the alleviation of intervertebral disc degeneration is particularly interesting.
4. It seems to have been studied after all! However, the results of this study in the International Journal of Molecular Science are so jaw-dropping that I simply can't speculate on it here. (Keep in mind the differences in intervention details from what I offer here, but the concept is still intriguing.)
5. In addition to the previous studies mentioned in note number 2, check out this one which tests a PEMF machine used as a non-invasive skin-tightening treatment in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology.
6. Red light therapy, or photobiomodulation, has been determined to be beneficial in many studies of various conditions. However here's a nice one on anti-aging from the journal Photomedicine and Laser Surgery.
7. For a complete ingredient list of the "Qualia" Senolytic, as well as for pricing if you buy direct from Neurohacker Collective, you can click here and scroll around.