Wellbeing Magazine Articles

Stay on the ‘Inside’ track – with brand new health blog

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 11:21:00 +0000

It’s cold outside, the weather is grim, cash is tight – so how on earth are you supposed to stay motivated and keep to those New Year’s resolutions you made just eight weeks ago?

By getting your motivation from others going through exactly the same thing! Sharing what you want to achieve not only keeps you accountable but also helps you get support to really achieve your goals.

And with a survey by Yakult revealing that over 27 million Brits have deemed 2009 the year they will become fitter and eat a healthier diet, there are clearly plenty of us looking to achieve new goals – that’s plenty of people to motivate and to be motivated by.

Which is why the digestive health experts at Yakult have added a new dimension to www.insideoutdiet.co.uk, the site dedicated to the diet and lifestyle plan of the same name. The pioneering plan, focused on maintaining good gut health, has been devised by a panel of experts including Dr Anthony Leeds, Fiona Hunter and Nicki Waterman. It has so far been experienced by tens of thousands of people – but those new to the plan in 2009 will be able to enjoy the added opportunity of sharing their experiences.

With the new online blog, those on The Inside Out Diet can share success with recipes, tips on the best exercise in wintry weather, advice on digestive complaints – or simply offer motivation to others. For, although The Inside Out Diet has been created to help people with digestive problems, it isn’t designed solely for people with ‘tummy troubles’ – the basic principles of the diet along with the exercises and planners included can help you at all stages of life as part of a dedicated health plan.

And if you’ve already failed in your new year mission then don’t despair, you are certainly not alone. Already this year, 15.5 million Brits will have struggled to stick to their resolutions. And according to experts, it’s because we are setting ourselves up for failure, by starting too soon.

This is the view of psychologist Donna Dawson, who says: “Starting your resolutions a few weeks into the year gives a far higher chance of success. The reason for this is two-fold: firstly people forget that Christmas can be a very stressful period in many ways; secondly, combining the after-effects of the holiday period with returning to work puts people under a great deal of emotional and physical strain. As a result, the majority of people are not mentally ready to begin their resolutions at the very start of the year.”

Hundreds of people have already signed up to The Inside Out Diet in 2009 and are sharing their experiences in the new online blog at www.insideoutdiet.co.uk. Whether you want to discuss recipes, exercise tips, how to deal with digestive complaints or just to get some motivation from other ‘Inside Outers’ then get online and get chatting!

To get your free copy of The Inside Out Diet (worth £3.49) visit, www.insideoutdiet.co.uk or ring 0845 769 7069.

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Brits urged to set a New 'New Year' for successful resolutions in 2009, 14th January is the best date to set a New Year resolution

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 10:26:00 +0000

For a successful outcome, January 14th is the date to begin a New Year resolution as the nation struggles to adapt in the first two weeks of January.

A survey conducted by probiotic experts Yakult has revealed that over 37 million Brits have set a New Year resolution in 2009. However, with 15.5 million (1) Brits admitting they struggle to stick to their resolutions in the first two weeks of the year and 5 million (2) failing all together, it seems to be time to reassess the trusted tradition of starting resolutions on the first day in January.

Leading gastroenterologist Dr Simon Gabe from St Mark's Hospital, and psychologist Donna Dawson believe delaying the start of your resolution will significantly increase your chances of success. A combination of the body recovering from Christmas indulgence and the physical and mental shock of going back to work in January means the body is ill-prepared to cope with changes to our diet and lifestyle, any earlier than this point in the year.

The research by Yakult showed 52% of people ate and drunk substantially more over the Christmas period with 30% likely to have experienced some form of digestive complaint (3).

Dr Simon Gabe says: "Digestive problems over Christmas are very common and can occur for a variety of reasons such as dietary changes, stress and gastroenteritis. Infections such as salmonella can and do occur from undercooked turkey, but it is more likely that symptoms suffered are due to a combination of dietary changes and stress. Irritable bowel symptoms have a seasonal variation (4) and this may relate to the diet and stress during this time of the year."

Making changes to your diet during this period before you've recovered could increase the likelihood of breaking your resolution. Starting a few weeks later will not only be better for you physically but also ease the mental struggle of trying to keep to your resolution.

This is a view of psychologist Donna Dawson who says: "Two weeks into the New Year is the best time to start your New Year resolution. The reason for this is two-fold: firstly people forget that Christmas can be a very stressful period in many ways; secondly, combining the after-effects of the holiday period with returning to work puts people under a great deal of emotional and physical strain. As a result, the majority of people are not mentally ready to begin their resolutions on New Year's Day."

Keeping to a successful resolution is a physical and mental battle. However, going back to work after the festive period also adds to the strain. 46% of those surveyed said going back to work after the festive period was a physical and mental shock to the system. When it comes to citing reasons for failure, 18% of people blamed the stress of going back to work, whilst 17% said it was a case of January blues which led them to fail. 38% would delay starting their resolutions if they thought it would mean keeping them longer.

Donna Dawson continues: "By January 14th you should be recovered from Christmas and adjusted to being back at work making it the perfect time to focus on improvements to your life. You have had time to think clearly about what you really want for yourself, and you are physically and mentally more able to work towards achieving it. If you have already broken your resolution, don't despair as now is the time to start afresh to increase your chance of success."

Five Tips for Successful New Year's Resolutions from Psychologist Donna Dawson:

1) Choose a Realistic Resolution and a Realistic Target Date: First, choose a resolution that can be achieved realistically within your present life-style. Then choose a date for reaching your goal that is neither so soon that you will fail (for example, a month), or so far away that you will give up before you reach it (say, six months). Any New Year's resolution should be considered an 'ongoing process', so give yourself a target date that reflects that.

2) Brainstorm: Write down every idea and activity that will help you to meet your goal - this may mean "adding" or "subtracting" something from your present lifestyle. Also, consider 'what' or 'whom' may be holding you back? You may have to avoid doing certain things, or even stop doing certain things for others

3) Prioritise: A big goal can always be broken down into smaller steps to make it more manageable. Find the smaller steps that make up the whole, and then work out a time-span for working out each smaller step into your life (for example, "immediately", " a few days", "a week", "a month").

4) Reinforcement; Human beings are creatures of habit; the trick is to unlearn "bad" habits and to replace them with "good" habits. If you are dieting, then reward any success with non-food rewards. If you are getting fit, plan at least two exercise sessions a week within your present routine (write them into your diary as firm dates, and then keep them). By reward and persistence, the "good" habits will soon become automatic, thereby ousting the "bad" habits.

5) Forgive Yourself: If you lapse from your goal, don't berate yourself and give up in disgust. "To err is human", and you must take the longer view. Cultivate the difference between 'willpower' (an "all-or-nothing" approach which brooks no failure), and 'self-control' (which can be 'learned', and which allows for some compromise). Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start again, always accentuating the positive!

1 Figure based on a UK population of 61 million and a survey response of 42% of those who said they will making a new year resolution
2 Figure based on a UK population of 61 million and a survey response of 14% of those who said they will be making a new year resolution
3 NHS Direct reported that calls to their service regarding digestive symptoms increased significantly over the Christmas period - up from around 20,000 calls over a 16 day period, to around 30,000
4 Talley et al (Dec 1995) Psychological distress and seasonal symptom changes in irritable bowel syndrome Am J Gastroenterol. 90 (12): 2115-9

Can you imagine owning a wellbeing getaway?

noreply@blogger.com (Administrator) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 18:03:00 +0000

PRESS RELEASE: 2nd September 2008

Rob & Neil from the Wellbeing Network spent 3 amazing days at the end of July visiting the world’s first wellbeing village, GeshaView.

GeshaView is set in a unique location, between the Stara Planina Mountains and the ancient capital of Bulgaria, Veliko Tarnovo. The views from the village are quite simply sensational, looking out over green forests and one of Europe’s Pan Parks stretching out into the distance. The village has won the only ever 5 star award for the Best Development in Bulgaria in the International Property Awards.

Properties at GeshaView

The village will benefit from an amazing woodland wellness centre, organic restaurants, conference centre, activity hub, craft shops as well as many other features.

The developers are genuinely committed to building a village to the highest standards, the properties are spacious with great attention to detail, the communal areas and facilities are well thought out and the chosen location is perfect for people wishing to explore the culture or participate in physical or creative activities. So whether you want to relax by the pool, enjoy luxurious treatments, climb, cycle, ride, hike or ski, GeshaView could be ideal for you.

The Local Area

The Wellbeing Network are going to be involved long term with GeshaView, providing courses at the wellness and conference centre, and offering the best value holidays to LifePass™ members.

Although convinced that the huge and growing demand for quality wellbeing destinations will lead to great rental returns and price increases, the developers are keen to have people buy that support the concept and want to get more than just money from owning a property at GeshaView. As such they are offering a 5% discount, to the first ten people that come to them from the Wellbeing Network that purchase a property at GeshaView.

Prices start from £55,000 to over £200,000, various payment options and mortgages are available.

CLICK here to request further details on this amazing opportunity and find out how you can invest in your very own wellbeing retreat.

All the best
Rob & Neil

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A Day for Heroes – McFly helping to support our Troops

noreply@blogger.com (Administrator) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:42:00 +0000

PRESS RELEASE: 1st September 2008

A DAY FOR HEROES

Help support our troops whilst enjoying a fabulous day out for all the family. Top of the bill are chart-busting McFly – with seven number 1s and two number 1 albums. Celebrities, artists and the military are joining forces to give families a day out to remember, whilst raising essential funds for Help for Heroes Charity.

Organisers ‘Your Voice Roadshow’ based in Ashford are hoping to raise a substantial amount of money for the charity. Help for Heroes was launched in October 2007 in response to the desire of ordinary people to do something practical to help our wounded servicemen and women. As individuals we are powerless to prevent war and can feel helpless that we are unable to stop our men and women from being killed and wounded. Celebrity supporters of the charity include TV show hosts Jeremy Clarkson and James May (Top Gear), Prince Harry and Prince William, Simon Cowell, rugby star Johnny Wilkinson, Lee Westwood, Sharon Osborne, actor Ross Kemp, Barbara Windsor, TV chef Gary Rhodes and football legend Frank Lampard. Football Icon David Beckham says ‘I am incredibly proud and grateful for the commitment and work that our armed forces do for our country. I support the campaign fully’

The event is taking place in the Detling Show Ground near Maidstone on Sunday 21 September 2008. Compered by Cheryl Baker and Shaun Williamson, the day will be packed with entertainment and thrills. The Princess of Wales's Royal Parachute Regiment will be opening the show with a spectacular entrance. Enjoy over 20 free funfair rides including the ultimate experience reverse bungee power shot and entertainment including military-based attractions such as aircraft simulators, parachute display teams and a challenging inflatable army assault course.

The main stage will feature messages of hope and support from across the globe.

It will be an emotional day for those involved with the forces. The poignant song ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’ with its chorus of “Did you ever know you’re my hero?” tug at the hardest heartstrings. With a special appearance by the song’s co writer, Jeff Silbar, who will duet with legendary diva Jocelyn Brown.

For up-to-the-minute listings and to buy advance tickets visit www.daysforheroes.com.

The ticket price includes the full music programme, all funfair rides and the armed services’ attractions. Tickets cost just £25 per adult, £14 per child (6-12 years) and £5 for under 5’s when purchased in advance. A family ticket (2+2) – available by advance booking only costs £70. Ticket prices at the gate will be £30 per adult, £18 per child aged 6-12 and £5 for under-5s. There will be food stalls and a picnic area in the grounds. Tickets can be purchased online at www.daysforheroes.com or direct from Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.co.uk) (booking fee of £2.25 per ticket)

For more information on A Day for Heroes, visit www.daysforheroes.com.

McFly helping to support our Troops

The National Osteoporosis Society seeks dance talent from the South East to inspire the nation to boogie for their bones

noreply@blogger.com (Administrator) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:13:00 +0000

PRESS RELEASE: 20th August 2008

Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood and Health Expert Dr. Miriam Stoppard have joined forces with The National Osteoporosis Society to offer dance schools from over the south east and across the country a once in a lifetime, unforgettable opportunity. The charity is offering dancers the chance to perform in front of an array of well known celebrities at London’s Royal Festival Hall on World Osteoporosis Day, 20th October 2008, to inspire the nation to get dancing to build stronger ‘life saving’ bones.

The dance event will be a platform for the National Osteoporosis Society to launch a new Boogie for your Bones dance plan, specially designed by Craig Revel Horwood and Dr Miriam Stoppard. The charity is inviting dance schools from across the UK to apply to take part in the event and will select four dance schools to choreograph their own routine using the new dance steps.

The Boogie for your Bones dance plan can be used by people of all ages and abilities to build stronger bones through dance.

Craig Revel Horwood comments,

“Dance is one of the best forms of weight bearing exercise, it is invigorating, engaging and exciting and most importantly it appeals to everyone. Unlike many exercises when people dance they don’t even realise that while having fun, they are building stronger bones and protecting themselves for the future. We are inviting any dance group, no matter what style, age or ability to join us, show the country their talent and inspire the nation to get healthy and boogie for their bones.”

So the search is now on for the four most deserving, unique, original dance schools, groups or companies from across the UK to participate in this unforgettable opportunity. Craig Revel Horwood, Dr Miriam Stoppard and the National Osteoporosis Society are looking for dancers of all ages, all abilities and all dancing styles to write in to :-

by the 5th Sept with details on their dance group (age, number of members, experience level and location) and a paragraph of no more than 200 words outlining their philosophy for dance and why they believe they can inspire the nation to boogie for their bones.

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Bodhi Garden Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Administrator) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:29:00 +0000

Press Release: 16th July 2008

Saturday 13th Sept
10am - 4.30pm
Friends, Meeting House,Ship Street, Brighton

Visual art music cinema food workshops therapies stalls

A One-Day Festival of Fun & Food, Art & Music, Health & Healing ... with an off-beat Buddhist twist ... Organised by the Bodhi Garden to give a platform to the multifarious talents of Brighton's Buddhistorienated community Free Entry Interviews with artists and performers are possible.

Contact: Richard 07796 331167

The day is also a fund-raiser day for the Bodhi Garden, a unique and internationally known Dharma centre tucked away in the heart of the city.

Live, inspirational and eclectic music.
Buddhist cinema from around the world.
A taste of real Buddhist meditation for complete beginners.
Talks from experts from the different traditions of Buddhism.
Vegetarian and vegan café serving delicious home-cooked & cakes.
Therapies & Workshops: Art therapy, massage, hypnotic meditation, mindful stress management, yoga for kids etc.
Stalls: Ethnic, fair trade, ethical goods, handicrafts, clothing, jewellery, Tibetan art

The name means 'Garden of Awakening' It opened in 2001 and is located at 7a Ship Street Gardens (the lane running between Ship Street and Middle Street), five minutes walk from the sea in a wood-panelled, skylit and extremely quiet former art gallery in Brighton's Lanes.

It provides a free space for groups and individuals interested in Buddhist meditation, teachings, talks and study. It is a non-denominational Buddhist meditation centre. Its ethos and its operation are entirely non-sectarian. It is unique in that it is the only such centre in Europe, and is networked in every continent except the Artics and South America! An urban Dharma centre housing groups that span a broad spectrum of traditional Buddhism (i.e. Theravada, Tibetan and Zen) is a very rare thing indeed, you see.

The centre is open to all people - Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. It runs on donations and offers: meditation classes, course and tuition; weekend retreats with highly experienced teachers from around the world; workshops on everything from Buddhist psychotherapy to art and movement; yoga classes; an open-minded, contemplative perspective on life.
It is another reason - if one were needed - that Brighton is the Buddhist capital of England.
It is now developing plans to establish a new and secure home for itself, somewhere inside the city limits of Brighton & Hove, from 2010.

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Bodhi-Garden-Festival-Press-Release.pdf

Hayfever - is there genuine relief in sight?

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Fri, 30 May 2008 08:38:00 +0000

As we head towards summer, the hope of warmer weather with sunny days is a welcome prospect for many of us. For others it's the start of itchy noses, streaming eyes and continuous sneezing.

Some sufferers will buy over the counter products to ease their suffering, whilst others will see their general practitioners. However these substances can be very powerful and whilst sometimes effective at suppressing the symptoms, have undesirable side effects and do nothing to cure the problem. Consequently many sufferers are now turning to homeopathy for help.

What is homeopathy?
Homeopathy is a gentle, holistic system of healing which is suitable for everyone and treats you as an individual.

What is hay-fever?
Hay-fever is caused by a reaction of the immune system to an environmental trigger. The body over-reacts to external substances leading to irritation and inflammation.
Hay-fever is a deep-seated condition which requires constitutional treatment from a qualified homeopath. Orthodox medical treatment can manage the condition with powerful drugs that have a number of side effects but constitutional homeopathic treatment over two or three seasons may cure the condition completely and, without any side effects.

A case study
I first met Alex when he was 12. He had been suffering from hay-fever for several years. His mother had tried everything else and homeopathy was the last resort. His school work was suffering and he stayed indoors as much as he could through the summer, being too congested and uncomfortable to join in sports or other activities.

His hay-fever began in early May and would continue through to the end of August. He presented with an itchy palate, irritable throat and, even though his nose could be extremely runny, it felt obstructed causing him to breathe through his mouth. He suffered from regular headaches and at times his face could become very "puffy". Alex also suffered from mild eczema, particularly during the winter months.

I saw Alex several times during the summer. The prescribed remedies helped him tremendously. Alex confirmed he felt "much better than before, it helped me much more than the antihistamines I took last year - and I wasn't drowsy!"

I prescribed for Alex during the following winter months to prepare him for the spring. His hay-fever started in June. The symptoms were not as bad as the previous year and he even helped his dad cut the grass! His eczema completed disappeared.

Over the next couple of winters, I prepared Alex for the following spring. His hay-fever season increasingly became shorter and much reduced in severity. By the time Alex was 15 his hay-fever symptoms had completed disappeared.

The ultimate test came when Alex was old enough to apply to the Royal Air Force and had to undergo a medical. This medical involved having pollen of every description blown into his face to test him for allergies. The test was completely clear. The official conclusion is that Alex does not suffer from hay-fever any more.

If you are suffering from hay-fever or other allergies or other health concerns, a qualified homeopath may be able to help you with completely safe and effective treatment.

Ginny Day at the Atman Clinic, Tunbridge Wells 01892 544783

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The Active Reiki Revolution Comes to Brighton

noreply@blogger.com (Administrator) — Wed, 21 May 2008 09:09:00 +0000

Press Release: 20 May 2008

The UK’s top teachers of Active Reiki, a holistic energy healing therapy originating in Japan, are now bringing their popular London courses to a Brighton audience. Andy Chrysostomou and Dawn Mellowship, authors of several books (including the recently published, The Essence of Reiki), writers for holistic magazine High Spirit and renowned Reiki teachers are running Reiki 1 and 2 courses at myhotel Brighton (opened in March 2008), where serene spirituality is complemented by cutting edge design.

Myhotel Brighton is the shared vision of CEO & founder of myhotels Andy Thrasyvoulou in conjunction with Karim Rashid. Described by Andy Thrasyvoulou as a place where “Freddie Mercury might have met the Maharishi,” myhotel Brighton is situated in the cultural quarter of the North Laines.

The philosophies behind myhotel Brighton are positive energy and heightened spirituality, making it the perfect venue for Andy Chrysostomou and Dawn Mellowship’s Reiki courses, where participants can learn to use Reiki actively to direct work on physical and emotional
conditions, as well as gaining focus, clarity and increased spiritual awareness.

The courses will be held in the beautiful Rishi Room, an informal and inspiring environment and students can dine in myhotel’s Zilli Café, which has the feel of a bustling Italian deli and serves plenty of healthy meals made from fresh ingredients.

Why Brighton? Andy Chrysostomou says, “There is a real spiritual buzz about Brighton that makes it the ideal location to teach our Reiki courses, which are focused as much on spiritual growth as they are on physical and emotional healing.” Dawn Mellowship is equally infused about bringing Active Reiki to Brighton. “There are many Reiki courses available in Brighton but we are the first teachers to offer Active Reiki, in the traditional style allowing students to work directly on physical illnesses and emotional problems. I can’t wait to teach a whole new audience.”

For further information, images or interviews contact
Andy or Dawn at by telephone: +44 (0) 208 367 9158.
Their Reiki websites can be found at www.thehealingco.com and www.activ-energy.com

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Java Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Fri, 16 May 2008 10:28:00 +0000

Where is Java? In Indonesia, of course – indeed, Jakarta, its principal city, is the capital of Indonesia. But you are unlikely to find Java mentioned in the glossy brochures supplied by your travel agent. Nevertheless, April 2008 found us flying to Java for the wedding of our son in Mojokerto, a small town near Surabaya on the north coast of East Java. In order to make the most of the two weeks either side of the wedding, we engaged the services of a professional guide and his driver.

Our guide, Adi, was a graduate in Dutch Law and a member of the Indonesian Tour Guide Association, who spoke English well. He planned our initial itinerary around the wedding, and then modified it continually so as to tailor it to our preferences and maximise the events that could be included. As we toured from one end of the island to the other, he tutored us on the geography and geology, the history and the politics, the culture and the language. He took us to see the making of leather, silver ware, batik, wood carving and pottery.

In the countryside we saw rice being planted and harvested, brick-making in the sun and tobacco drying houses. We were introduced to local cuisine and shown the trees that produced coffee, cocoa, cloves, bananas, pineapples, coconuts, tamarind and the dreaded “durian fruit”. We saw beautiful mosques and magnificent temples, including the mighty Borobudur (Buddhist) and Prambanan (Hindu). We watched displays of Kecak traditional dance. We saw children playing Gamelan music on bamboo instruments and watched as they were taught Javanese traditional dance with its complex language of hand and foot movement.

We went up several volcanoes, by car and jeep, on horseback and on foot. We rode motorbikes around the rim of a crater formed by a “mud eruption” where a volcanic disturbance some 5 years earlier had buried 41 villages so that only the top turret of a rural mosque still showed as evidence of the houses buried beneath. We bathed in a hot spring and stood inches away from a bubbling cauldron of murderous sulphuric lava. We climbed the mountain trail used by sulphur miners and stood aside in sympathy as they ran past carrying pannier loads of sulphur blocks weighing between 60 and 120kg

We stayed in mountain huts and luxuriated in 4-star hotels. We crossed to Bali and were surprised to find a branch of M&S in the grand main street of Kuta, a busy tourist resort. It was the trip of a lifetime and an amazing experience.

Does this whet your appetite enough to try this adventure? If your tastes veer more towards white water rafting and exploration of tropical jungle and mangrove swamps, then this can be provided too. Further information from: Siamet Supriyadi, SH (call name, Adi. S),
Address Jl. Rokan No. 10, Cideng Jakarta Pusat, 10150 INDONESIA
Mobile: (+62) 0815 10093620

Jennifer Branson

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Your health; whose responsibility?

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Fri, 16 May 2008 10:23:00 +0000

Your health; whose responsibility?
‘I have “Crohn’s” disease’ said a friend of mine.
(For those of you who don’t know what Crohn’s disease is here is a definition; a chronic form of inflammatory bowel disease named after an American gastroenterologist specialist called ‘Burrell Crohn’ whose symptoms is severe irritation in the gastrointestinal tract. It usually affects just the lower small intestine (called the ileum) or the colon, but it can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract.)

Now according to many so called specialists there is no known cause of this disease; so of course we are all at the mercy of the pharmaceutical companies as to which miracle medicine can cure us.

Now I am no medical specialist but I do have an interest in common sense. In my view if there is something wrong with the digestion tract, it is usual one of two causes; physical stress, due to a poor diet or nervous stress due to mental worry, or more usually, a combination of both.
Now I knew my friend had a very stressful job and so I asked him about his diet starting with what he usually had for breakfast. “Oh I don’t bother with breakfast I usually have 5- 6 cups of coffee instead”. I asked him if he thought this might be contributing toward his condition, “Oh I have never thought of that let me see what the specialist says”.
Apparently the specialist said ‘Crohn’s’ has nothing to do with diet.

Another very close relative of mine was rushed into hospital a couple of years ago with agonizing stomach cramps; he had something called ‘Dirvitculitis’ which is inflammation of the wall of the colon. If this goes untreated this can be very dangerous as the colon can actually split and case blood poisoning.

The relative was quickly operated on and had a colostomy bag fitted. Now I know this person had a very poor diet and at the time ate hardly any vegetables. Now we might hope the hospital would speak to him about his diet possibly as prevention to it happening again. In fact less than 24 hours after the operation he was given his first meal chicken curry from the hospital itself. In my view although I am not a dietary ‘specialist’ common sense should tell you this is not right.

I have used these two examples to hopefully show that we cannot leave our health to so called professionals. Whilst the operation to deal with the Dirvitculitis was probably life saving, if you keep riding a bike over glass you will eventually get punctures.

What interests me is that neither of these individuals is devoid of intelligence; yet both seem content to let someone else take responsibility of their health. I have many more examples of how for some reason we feel it is correct to leave the responsibility of our health to so called specialists, who due to there very nature of their work will usually be more interested in ‘complications’ and be suspicious of simple solutions.

Over the last eight years I have developed a treatment which I believe can benefit almost all conditions from asthma to weight loss to stress management; with main emphasis being prevention. It is based heavily upon the ‘Buteyko Method’ named after the late Professor Buteyko. I call it ‘Holistic Buteyko’ and my aim is to put illness to BED with the emphasis on special BREATHING techniques, controlled cardiovascular EXERCISE and a majority alkaline DIET.
The breathing techniques help stabilise both physical and mental health. By learning to breathe calmly, levels of cortisol are lowered; this has both significant short and long term benefits due to a reduction in perceived stress.

Exercising in a controlled manner is essential to good health. For example if someone who is obese suddenly starts to just exercise with no regard to his own heart or breathing rate he could actually be doing more harm than good.

The advice on diet is mainly lots of green vegetables cooked lightly so as to retain the enzymes, essential in the digestion process. Indeed the main aim of the diet is to take as much strain off the digestive system as possible.

In the opinion of this writer it is our responsibility is to take care of our own health first; this comes through self education and self responsibility.

Michael Clark NMQAA
Holistic Buteyko Trainer
www.holsiticbuteykotraining.com

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The Global Medicine Hunter, Dr Meg Jordan

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Fri, 16 May 2008 10:15:00 +0000

The Global Medicine Hunter
Dr Meg Jordan

The real life medicine man turns out to be a woman and whilst her quest for new cures might not quite be as glamorous as that portrayed by Sean Connery in the film Medicine Man, it certainly has its perks.

Dr Meg Jordan is a medical anthropologist, which means she searches for effective medicinal remedies from healing traditions around the Globe. When she discovers something she believes of value, she negotiates with the natives to bring it back, arranges a fair trade, tests it for scientific validity, and, if all that works out positively, tries to convince labs, clinics, universities and hospitals to integrate the remedy into medical practice.

Meg’s search for new medicines has taken her everywhere from the Caribbean to the Amazon, Southern India to the rain forests British Columbia. But the jet-set lifestyle isn’t all glamour and excitement, and whilst Meg loves meeting people from different cultures and learning about their way of life there’s a lot of hard work to do as she wades through mud, clambers up mountains and scrounges through snake-infested jungles in her quest to find natural medicine that really works.

The real satisfaction lies in finding something that really does work and helping the locals benefit from its export. A recent trip to St Vincent led to Meg meeting a local who was an enthusiastic spokesman for the healing therapies of his elders, the Caribs, the earliest known native residents of the Caribbean chain of islands.

Meg was particularly interested in the trumpet leaf, a local broad leafed plant that is used for coughs, colds, flu, nasal blockages, head congestion, asthmatic conditions and more.

A tea is made with the dried, ground up leaf, brewed to a certain strength for at least 20 minutes, then sipped all day long. The steam from the tea is most beneficial. Wrapping a towel around one’s head and inhaling the aroma is a sure fix for clearing up clogged nasal passages.

Meg is now trying to convince companies to strike a fair trade deal with the Caribs, in order to cultivate, harvest, and market their local cold and cough remedy and hopes to have some good news soon. St Vincent was hard hit in recent hurricanes and Meg feels is seems only right that the society should benefit from conscious global trade, now that they are swept up in the dire consequences of more frequent and harsher storms, more than likely due to climate change.

Meg’s real passion though, and at the center of her quest, is a desire to find the richest, and most potent ‘adaptogen’. An adaptogen is a herb or botanical compound that helps to normalise the body and aid its natural processes. Those adaptogens that have been found appear to have an uncanny ability to help the body with a large range of problems. For example, if you have low blood pressure, adaptogens help to raise it slightly. If you have high cholesterol, adaptogens help reduce it. Scientists have never been able to manufacture in a laboratory what natural adaptogens are able to achieve within human physiology.

Out of thousands of botanical remedies, only a few qualify as adaptogens. In Russia, Meg came across rhodiola; in India, ashwaghanda. Both have been used by native healers and are now integrated into modern medical practice. Meg is most excited however by an adaptogen she found in the East - the Red Reishi mushroom. This rare, woody mushroom from the remote Asian highlands is considered the most superior energy adaptogen on the planet. Used for over 2,000 years by traditional Chinese and Japanese healers reishi’s rarity meant it was once reserved solely for use by Emperors.

Thanks to the likes of Meg though reishi has now become more readily available and various scientific studies have helped show that, as with many of Meg’s finds, its claimed benefits appear to be real. Various therapeutic compounds, such as polysaccharides, beta-glucans, and ganoderic acid, have been identified in reishi and are seen to help strengthen the body’s response to disease-causing processes, rebuilding and restoring immune system function, and improve the body’s overall ability to cope with life’s stresses mental, physical and environmental. Red Reishi is also thought to help enhance energy levels if you’re feeling run down and stagnant, or help calm you if you’re irritable and stressed.

Despite Meg’s passion she is aware that not every cure is going to be found deep in the jungle, a fact brought home to her by the native healer who gave her the name “Global Medicine Hunter”. They asked Meg what she was doing so far from home -
“Don’t you know your medicine is in your own backyard?”
She had a point and Meg realizes that good medicine is the one that works for you, no matter if it’s alternative, complementary or conventional, but seeks to discover why the Eastern approach to cultivating and sustaining energy is so vastly different from the West’s material, structured approach.

Perhaps the most important lesson Meg has learnt from her travels is that its not always about the actual remedies themselves…

“More than anything, what medical anthropology has taught me is to honor wholeness and interconnectedness, and understand how every intervention is holistic in its impact, affecting person, place and planet.”

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Tui Na Chinese Massage

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Fri, 16 May 2008 10:10:00 +0000

It is strange that not many of us in the West have heard of Tui Na, as it is one of the main branches of Chinese medicine, alongside Acupuncture and Herbalism. It is some 3000 years old, and many modern massage styles such as Swedish massage and Shiatsu are derived from it.

Tui Na is a versatile form of massage, containing techniques that range from Yang (strong, vigorous and penetrating) to Yin (gentle and relaxing). It works with the physical body and the Qi, and makes great use of acupressure – this makes it suitable for a wide range of complaints.

The theory of Tui Na is the same as that of Acupuncture, so it has the same detailed diagnostic methods and complex understanding of the body and mind. This is what marks it as separate from most other massage. In Tui Na, the therapy is inseparable from the theory.

This makes Tui Na suitable for far more than just muscular problems, in fact it can be successfully used for a wide range of internal conditions, including respiratory, circulatory, digestive, mental-emotional and hormonal problems to name a few. It is also of great benefit in maintaining health and dealing with stress.

The Author, Neil Kingham, practices in South Wales, and be contacted via his website at www.qi-therapies.com

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Arthritis Does Not Need To Be A Life Sentence

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Fri, 16 May 2008 10:06:00 +0000

The Saddest Thing I Hear (And I Hear It So Often) From Arthritis Sufferers
“Arthritis Does Not Need To Be A Life Sentence.” So Says Dr Tony Parker, a chiropractor in practice since 1989.
Imagine you have an onset of back pain (or neck, shoulder, arm or leg pain for that matter). You seek a consultation with your preferred health care provider. Being very careful to ensure you receive the correct diagnosis your provider sends you to a specialist who considers the best course of action is to conduct some investigations and tests and order some x-rays.

A few days later you get a call from the secretary to the specialist who suggests you re-visit to discuss the findings.

The tests come back negative for any conditions other than mechanical or movement related and the x-rays show some deterioration of the spine. You are uncomfortable about these changes but the specialist is reassuring in saying that being aged over 25 years there is a good likelihood of finding some arthritic deterioration on x-ray, however very little can be done about it.

This is the scenario we have encountered so many times whereby the patient has been told about their arthritic condition, that nothing can be done about it and they will have to learn to live with it, hope it will go away, or consider using medication for the remainder of their lives.

In so many cases the statement about having arthritis is true, but it is not the cause of the pain and the person should certainly not have to learn to live with it or consider long term medication. Correction of spinal incorrect movement is very often the best and most natural source of pain relief (the pain is so often due to nerve interference). This is the speciality of the chiropractor –although they do help with many other conditions.

Not all specialists fail to understand the importance of correct spinal movement, and many GPs and specialists are under the care of chiropractors (often saying they could not perform their vital roles in society without visits to their chiropractor for spinal correction).

Do you have a pain that keeps coming and going? Do you have a suspicion that it might be associated with other health or fitness problems? Are you sometimes clumsy or have difficulty with your balance? Has there ever been any trauma in your life:- a fall down stairs, fall from a horse, car accident, a sudden slip with a twist. An impact as low as 3 miles per hour can have an effect on your spinal movement and can lie undetected for years before giving you any symptoms. (For many people the problem is getting worse, with no pain to tell them so. This can be compared with other health conditions e.g. for some heart attack victims the first sign of a problem is death, tooth decay can be over 40 % before any pain, tumours can often be late stage before any symptoms are noticed.)

If you have obvious or hidden spinal malfunction or decay you could do yourself an enormous favour by seeking a consultation with a chiropractor. He or she will properly investigate your condition and tell you the options for restoration or improvement.

Chiropractors can only use the title chiropractor by conforming to a strict set of guidelines, are fully trained to internationally accepted standards (usually a five year full time degree course) and adhere to a code of practice. Look in your local telephone directory, where the qualifications will be available to view.

If you would like further information www.drparkerchiropractor.co.uk

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From Stress to Strength

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Fri, 16 May 2008 09:59:00 +0000

Writer and Energy Awareness™ practitioner Natalie Fee looks at how day-to-day stresses can be used as a way to increase your health and happiness.

When we think of stress, most of us think of being stressed at work, or being stressed out by someone we know. Stress comes up in all kinds of situations and, for many of us, fairly frequently throughout the day.

I’m not going to go into the physical effects of stress, as there’s plenty been written on that subject. What gets less attention is the effect it has on my energy. And how that in turn effects the energy of those around me. Basically, anytime I feel disturbed - for example feeling frightened, angry, hurt or confused - I’m experiencing a stress of some sort. And any kind of disturbance to my mood is simply a sign that one or more of my chakras is lacking in a certain energy. If I get really nervous about a job interview - it demonstrates a lack of energy at my third chakra - resulting in fear. If I can’t stop questioning my partner over where they’ve been and who they’ve been with - it demonstrates a lack of energy at my sixth chakra - resulting in jealousy. Every form of stress corresponds to a lack of energy within me. It’s a pretty radical way of seeing things, as suddenly no-one else is responsible for how I feel! Sure, someone can be acting in a negative way towards me, but does that mean I have to get angry or feel hurt? Although I often do, I’m learning another way. A way that brings me deep and lasting transformation - and a real sense of awakening to my true nature. If my energy was already strong in a particular area, I wouldn’t get stressed by what other people say or do. It’d be like water off a ducks back. So at the times I do feel stressed, I can see that the person / situation has actually done me a favour by showing me a part of my energy that needs to become stronger. Which chakra it’s stemming from - although fascinating - isn’t of any particular importance. What is important is what I do can about it.

For example, the other day I was feeling extremely low. It doesn’t happen to me that often, but there were a number of ‘good reasons’ for my feeling bad (we get very good at finding a reason for feeling bad!). I’d been sick for teen days, I was due on my period, and my partner had just told me that the holiday I was anticipating wasn’t happening. Great. I felt uncontrollably emotional. But I knew in that moment that I had a choice. Either I could wallow in self-pity, make my partner feel bad for not taking me on holiday (ignoring the reality that we just couldn’t afford it right now) or I could do something to change my energy. I sat down to meditate and calm my breathing, bringing my attention to my breath, but I was too disturbed to concentrate, so I put my coat on and went for a “power walk”. This is a walking meditation which uses a mudra (hand position) to eliminate stress from the energy body. After power walking for about 25 minutes I was much calmer. My energy had changed. Doing an energy practice doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll feel instantly better - sometimes you will - but the benefits to your energy are still there, even if you don’t always feel them. On this occasion I did feel better. The power walk had given me the clarity to accept the situation, instead of feeling bad about it.

It’s these kind of energy practices that can successfully transform the stress being experienced into beneficial energies like happiness, wisdom or higher awareness. Unfortunately just ‘thinking’ a problem away, or saying an affirmation, although it may make you feel better, doesn’t cause stable change by itself. If you really want to strengthen your energy, you’ll need a few ways to do that! Through my training I’ve built up a ‘toolkit’ of practices and remedies for transforming stressful situations - and use them every day!

If you want to live life to the full, to really be your own person and not let yourself be knocked about emotionally by other people’s actions or stressed by the amount of work you have sitting on your desk - then you must be able to make a choice in times of stress. Do I carry on losing energy and feeling bad? Or do I stop the reaction and do something to increase my energy and feel better? And there’s a real point to all this. The more we continue to feed our old habits and energy-descending tendencies, the duller our energy becomes. But when we refuse to be controlled by them, we’re instead feeding our spirit, making our energy and lives a whole lot brighter.

When you live your life in this way, things change. It’s not something that happens overnight - it’s a process, full of ups and downs. Of course you can’t get it right all the time - there will be times when you scream and shout ‘it’s not fair - it’s not my fault!’ - but those times get fewer and fewer as your energy becomes stronger. Slowly, you notice that even though you may still react to certain people or situations, the reaction doesn’t last as long as it did before. And then over time you realise that how you feel is less dependant on what’s happening around you. Eventually, you stop being at the mercy of your circumstances - and revel in the freedom this brings! However the reality is that it’s a bit like going to the gym, you have to keep at it before you see results. You expect to have good days and bad days, but you know each time you go you’re getting fitter. And that’s what’s happening when you start trying to change your energy. It may feel like you’re getting nowhere, but every time you choose to not react in the usual way, and instead choose to act in a way that helps your energy, you’re making a huge difference to your future. You really are creating (or revealing!) a happier, peaceful and more balanced you. Which in turn creates happier, peaceful and more balanced relationships - not just with the people in your life, but your relationship with other areas of your life such as your diet, your home, and your career.

Having enough energy to choose to act differently, to not be taken over by your reactions, results from cultivating your energy a little bit at a time, day by day. There are many ways in which you can do this - you may already have a few of your own practices for when you get thrown off balance! But for more life-tools, ones that are personalised to suit your individual needs and stresses, feel free to get in touch.

More Information:
• Natalie Fee is a writer and healer, and offers Everyday Alchemy™ consultations in Glastonbury, London and Southampton. She is also a director of Weaving Star, designing clothing and accessories guaranteed to increase your health, energy and awareness.

• To book a consultation, or for more information, contact Natalie on +44 (0)1458 831116 / +44 (0)7871 397868 (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm) or visit her websites - www.weavingstar.com / www.everydayalchemist.com

© Natalie Fee 2008 - this document and its contents may not be copied or reproduced without the authors permission.

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All articles published by Wellbeing Magazine are done so with the consent of our contributors.
If you wish to republish any of the works you need to contact the contributors directly.
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Eco range gets a bamboo boost at Nigel's Eco Store

noreply@blogger.com (Administrator) — Thu, 15 May 2008 09:12:00 +0000

Press Release: 15 May 2008

VERSATILE, sustainable, recyclable, renewable: Bamboo embodies all of these qualities and ticks every environmental box – and the range of eco products at Nigel's Eco Store has just had a bamboo injection.

“Bamboo is super friendly for our planet because it absorbs 35 per cent more carbon dioxide than an equivalent stand of trees, it grows anywhere without the need of fertilizers or chemicals and it can be used to make anything from baby clothes to elegant sustainable furniture,” says Nigel.

Baby bamboo range

“Unlike cotton, bamboo is grown without pesticides or fertilizers
and because it's breathable, antibacterial and hypoallergenic, it
stays fresh longer, needs less washing and is perfect for babies'
extra sensitive skin,” adds Nigel.

The unique collection of baby bamboo clothing includes a cute
and snuggly bathrobe that fits ages six to 24 months and
because bamboo is 60 per cent more absorbent than cotton, it's
perfect for bath times.

Other 100 per cent baby bamboo clothes include a cute denim dress with ribbon detail and
unisex bamboo denim jeans, both available in sizes 0 to 24 months.

“And if you are having trouble getting your babies to sleep, try our sensationally silky soft 100 per cent Bamboo Baby Blanket – it's perfect for tucking up your little one and making them all warm and cosy,” Nigel comments.

Bamboo Veneer Cabinets

And for the grown ups Nigel has elegant, simple and functional cabinets that have been designed and made from grasses, using bamboo veneer with a wheat straw-board core, and with no formaldehyde or nasty glues.

Either cabinet can be used as a coffee table, low sideboard or media table and because they both have curved cable cut-outs in the back to allow DVD players, games consoles and freeviews, there's no need to rewire big British plugs.

The cabinets come flat-packed, ready for simple home assembly, and at the end of their life, they can be easily disassembled for recycling (aluminium legs) and composting (natural fibres).

Other bamboo products at Nigel's Eco Store
Other products made from bamboo include bamboo towels, maternity belly bands (95 per cent bamboo, 5 per cent spandex) and ladies T-shirts (made from a mix of organic cotton and bamboo).

www.nigelsecostore.com

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Harness the power of the wind and the sun this festival and camping season

noreply@blogger.com (Administrator) — Tue, 06 May 2008 15:47:00 +0000

Press Release 06 May 2008

SYNONYMOUS with wellies, waterproofs and wet weather, festivals and camping trips should also equal the use of eco friendly products, says Nigel's Eco Store.

By packing environmentally friendly products such as a wind powered iPod, camera and mobile phone charger, solar lights, wind up torches and radios, festival and camping lovers won't have to worry about running out of juice ever again while reducing their impact on the environment.

“Not being able to charge a phone is not the end of the world if it's for a couple of days but having a digital camera pack up on you when your favourite band is playing is really frustrating,” says Nigel from Nigel's Eco Store.

“Get the ingenious HYmini Personal Wind Turbine and you will never have a flat battery again.

An alternative to a solar powered charger, HYmini is a small, handheld, waterproof charger and wind powered generator that charges mobile phones, iPods and most portable electronic devices.

“Stylish in appearance but rugged in performance, it charges by wind or rechargeable internal battery and is the must have accessory this year when on the go – it has a huge advantage over traditional solar chargers as it can be left to charge over a windy night, constantly gathering energy from either a light breeze to a strong wind,” adds Nigel.

Another eco gadget that makes life a lot easier when camping is Sun Jar Solar Light – it may look like a jam jar, but it's jammed full of solar cells, batteries and LEDs so that it sucks in the sun's rays all day and give them back at night.

“Just leave it charging in the Sun during the day so it can glow automatically when it gets dark,” he says.

No camping trip is complete without a torch - PowerPlus Dolphin Wind Up LED Torch will solve the problem of running out of batteries at the worst possible time. Just 60 seconds of winding will produce 30 minutes of light and the added bonus is it can be used as a mobile phone charger too.

“And while you are at it, wind down with a wind up radio such as EyeMax wind up LED Solar Radio that will give you music wherever and whenever you want. It plays for 35 minutes at normal volume for each 30 second wind but if left in direct sunlight, the EyeMax will charge itself using a built in solar panel and play without winding. What's more, it has a built in flashlight too,” Nigel adds.
General enquiries

All items listed are available online at www.nigelsecostore.com and by phone on 0800 288 8970.

The Future of Medicine - Integrated Medicine

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Fri, 02 May 2008 07:01:00 +0000

Integrated medicine is the new buzz word. The UK's first professional training programme for integrated medicine is about to be launched; integrated clinics and centres are opening and books on integrated medicine can be found in pretty much every health book store throughout the country.

In America integrated medicine, or integrative medicine, as they refer to it, is even further developed. The Duke Centre for Integrative Medicine was launched in 2002 as the Americas flagship integrative medicine centre. Located in North Carolina, its 27,000 square foot premises houses therapeutic treatment rooms, conference and workshop spaces, fitness facilities, meditation spaces, and a state-of-the-art kitchen for healthy cooking demonstrations, guest meals and catered events. Their integrative medical team consists of professionals from medicine, health psychology, life coaching, nutrition and the complementary therapies. In that same significant year, 2002, The Bravewell Collaborative was founded by a small group of philanthropists who were dedicated to transforming American healthcare by returning "the soul to medicine." They really have been a major driving force behind the advancement of integrated medicine in the USA. For example, and I can't help but admit that I am envious about this, they have funded a clinical network of eight integrated medicine clinics, raised the funds to produce a PBS programme on integrated medicine called The New Medicine, funded scholarships for 28 physicians to receive training in integrated medicine and funded the infrastructure and growth of the Consortium of Academic Health Centres for Integrative Medicine to its current level of participation-38 of the leading US medical schools.

So integrated medicine, the "medicine of the new millennium" is here to stay, but what exactly does integrated medicine mean, and how does it differ from integrated healthcare?

Defining Integrated Medicine (Is Not Easy)

There is not a universally accepted definition of integrated medicine - it's a definition in evolution. When I ask people at my lectures what they understand integrated medicine to be, I either get blank stares (the majority) or a couple will say something along the lines of "it's about combining the best of conventional and complementary medicine". That's partly true, but integrated medicine is so much more. These are two of the most illuminating definitions that I have come across.

The first is from The Consortium of Academic Health Centres for Integrative Medicine, that I mentioned earlier. Their mission (in their own words), is to help transform medicine and healthcare through rigorous scientific studies, new models of clinical care, and innovative educational programs that integrate biomedicine, the complexity of human beings, the intrinsic nature of healing and the rich diversity of therapeutic systems. Their definition is:

Integrative Medicine is the practice of medicine that reaffirms the importance of the relationship between practitioner and patient, focuses on the whole person, is informed by evidence, and makes use of all appropriate therapeutic approaches, healthcare professionals and disciplines to achieve optimal health and healing.

Their Wheel of Health provides a wonderful illustration of the depth and breadth of the integrated medicine approach that they offer.

Another, longer definition, is from The Bravewell Collaborative

What has come to be called integrative medicine is a rapidly growing and highly credible field that seeks to integrate the best of Western scientific medicine with a broader understanding of the nature of illness, healing and wellness. In seeking to return the soul to medicine, integrative medicine is grounded in the healing relationship-practitioners and patients share information as well as compassion as together they seek ways to achieve optimal health. This approach to giving care focuses on healing the whole person and addresses a person's body (one's physical self), mind (one's mental and emotional state), spirit (one's personal connection to the transcendent), and community (one's web of relationships and environment). Informed by evidence, integrative medicine makes use of all appropriate therapeutic approaches, healthcare professionals and disciplines to achieve optimal health and healing and strives to achieve wholeness and health as well as cure illness and disease. Because an informed, empowered patient will make better choices about his or her healthcare and lifestyle options, patient education is an essential element of integrative care.

I remember the first time I read these two definitions - my heart lifted - this is what medicine should surely be about? Patient-centred relationships, compassion, addressing mind, body, spirit and environment, focusing on health and healing as well as disease and illness, and empowering patients to make better choices - these principles were bread and butter for my somewhat disillusioned medical self - they were inspirational and uplifting and surely describing the medicine of the future?

As time has passed, and with the experience that comes with practising for more than 7 years as an integrated medical doctor, I have reflected long and hard on the subject of integrated medicine and come to a couple of realisations that have brought me (in a positive way) down to earth. Whereas I used to see a future in which all people would be offered within the NHS, the width and depth of integrated medical services, I now see a different future, one that requires me to distinguish integrated holistic healthcare from integrated medicine. They are not the same entity.

INTEGRATED HOLISTIC HEALTHCARE

I define integrated holistic healthcare as the provision of the best possible level of whole-person care, using the most effective and cost-effective approaches from conventional and complementary medicine for the purpose of helping individuals achieve optimum health and healing. Put another way this is providing the best of conventional and complementary medicine within a holistic framework. This exists to a degree already, and I do see a future where this will be offered formally by the National Health Service. However it is inevitable, in my opinion, that only a handful of complementary therapies that have had their effectiveness and cost-effectiveness fully evaluated will be invited to join the club. Outside of the NHS, I can see more privately owned integrated health clinics opening that offer, for example, a holistically-informed GP (as a gatekeeper) working alongside a team of complementary therapists.

Providing access to a number of different options and therapies however is not integrated medicine, its integrated healthcare, integrated medicine is much more. If both are to advance my feeling is that we need to make clear this differentiation.

The following is my own perspective on what integrated medicine is. The two definitions that I shared earlier are great, but incomplete.

I define integrated medicine as a personalised, person-empowering approach to healthcare, one that is committed to helping individuals experience their fullest potential for health, healing and personal growth. Rather than exclusively focusing on recovery from disease and distress, it embraces a wider vision of health, one that seeks to help individuals thrive and flourish - physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. To achieve this integrated medicine makes use of all of the appropriate self-help, conventional and complementary therapeutic assessments, tools and approaches available, and wherever possible does so according to the evidence of their effectiveness. Underpinning the integrated medicine approach is the unique relationship created between the practitioner and patient, the commitment of the patient to learning new skills, acquiring new knowledge and transforming perceptions, habits and attitudes, and the skills, awareness and presence of the practitioner.

Integrated medicine is not just about helping individuals recover from disease and distress, but helping them discover how to thrive and flourish as human beings.

The Future

Do I see integrated holistic healthcare - conventional and complementary medical practitioners working more closely together to improve therapeutic outcomes and patient's quality of life as the future? I do. Do I see integrated medicine becoming widely practised and widely desired? The honest answer is no, not for the moment. Despite there being a considerable amount of interest in holistic ways of living, spiritual growth and CAM approaches very few people are actually willing to translate that knowledge or interest into action. It's easy to talk about change, to talk about treating mind, body and spirit, but who is really committed to changing habits, and learning new skills? The truth is, most people want quick fixes, and fortunately many conventional and complementary medical practices is set up to provide that. And as anyone who is committed to personal inner work knows, waking up, getting real and facing reality is hard work - it requires courage and a commitment to healing and personal growth.

Although not everyone is ready to wholeheartedly embrace integrated medicine, I do believe its time will come.

Dr Mark Atkinson is an integrated medical doctor, Founder of The British College of Integrated Medicine www.integratedmedicine.org.uk , Chairman of The British Society of Integrated Medicine and author of The Mind-Body Bible His website is www.drmarkatkinson.com

Osteopathy for Babies

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 08:33:00 +0000

Why would a baby need an Osteopath? This is a common question when speaking to parent. The first thing to understand is that an Osteopath does not only treat spinal pain. They treat the whole body and can therefore contribute to treating a wide range of conditions such as migraine, asthma, and irritable bowel. Therefore an Osteopath would not be seeing a baby because it necessarily had something wrong with it’s spine but for conditions like colic, restless sleep, and feeding difficulties.

So how does the Osteopath treat conditions like these? They are trained to pick up dysfunctions within the body. They know what healthy tissue feels like and therefore can know when something feels unhealthy or dysfunctional. Unhealthy here does not mean pathological or diseased but under functioning and not at optimum health. They pick these dysfunctions up with their hands, a light and gentle touch which doesn’t involve moving the baby around at all. In fact some babies sleep through a treatment. This technique is gentle enough to use on the youngest babies, only a few days or weeks old.
Babies are obviously designed for birth and their bodies adapt very well to it, as any parent who has seen the speed at which their baby’s head returns to a normal shape after birth, can tell you. However the baby’s body is subject to many stresses and strains and huge forces during the birth process which can sometimes leave tensions and irritations through the skull and body which can contribute to restless babies, colic, feeding problems, excessive crying etc.
If the labour has been particularly long or very short, they often find quite a lot of tension at the top of the babies neck which can then directly aggrevate the nerve to the gut, contributing to colic. Another common finding in the colicy baby is tension around the umbilicus from when the cord is cut, or from physical pulling if the cord was round the baby’s neck.
Forceps and ventouse interventions can leave specific strain patterns through the skull and body, as can the position in which the baby was born ie. anterior, posterior, or breech.

Babies born by caesarean, either planned or emergency, can also benefit from treatment. The emergency caesarean is often proceeded by a fairly lengthy labour with the baby getting stuck or going into distress, or both. The baby can therefore be quite low in the pelvis and has to be pulled the other way to be born, sometimes with forceps. This can be quite a shocking experience for the baby and if the baby was stuck previously this could leave strains in the skull. A planned caesarean can be more shocking as there is no gradual build up and the birth is very fast. Babies born in this way can be very quiet for the first few weeks and sometimes feel to the Osteopath as though they were not ready to be born and want to be back in the womb. There can also be a great deal of shock in their system.

Those Osteopaths who work with babies and children would recommend that every baby should be seen for a postnatal check to deal with any strains arising from the birth. The ideal age to treat is at two weeks. None of these strains are pathological and can therefore be lived with quite happily but it is quite heart breaking to see the older child presenting problems, which are in part due to birth strain patterns in his body and which, if dealt with earlier, could probably have prevented the current problems.
Osteopaths are commonly able to completely relieve the symptoms of colic, and can help considerably with restless sleep, and feeding difficulties, as it may be tension in the neck or face which is preventing the baby from latching on properly to the breast or teat. There are always many other factors, which can affect these conditions but Osteopathy can restore the baby’s body to optimum function and that can always help.

This article was written by Claire Piper D.O.,D.P.O. of In Touch With Health Osteopathic Practice in Wadhurst and Crowborough. Enquiries 07891 043497.

Boosting fertility

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 08:32:00 +0000

Infertility is usually defined as the failure to conceive after a year or more of regular sexual activity during the time of ovulation. It also refers to the inability to carry a pregnancy to term. At present in the UK one in six couples are infertile. The statistics for fertility are not that good added to the fact that the quantity and quality of your eggs decline with age. Women in their early 20‘s are about twice as likely to get pregnant as women in their late 30’s.

For men, infertility is most often the result of a low sperm count or an anatomical abnormality. A variety of factors can result in a low sperm count including; alcohol consumption, endocrine disorders, exposure to toxins, radiation, excessive heat, fever, or testicular injury. For women the most common causes are ovulatory failure, blocked fallopian tubes, endometriosis or fibroids and some women can develop antibodies to their partners sperm.

If you want to become pregnant there are a number of tests available over the counter that can help you determine the best time to attempt to conceive. These tests predict the time of ovulation by detecting the release of LH, luteinizing hormone which in turn triggers the release of the egg.

There is increasing evidence that before even thinking about a baby you and your partner may need to change your diet and lifestyle to allow healthy sperm to grow in a healthy body. I have devised below some tips and advice for both men and women to follow as part of pre conceptual care plan. If possible this should be started at least three months before trying to conceive.

For Women

0. Stop smoking, drinking alcohol and coffee. Take a good multivitamin with folic acid before, during and after pregnancy - try Lamberts Strongstart. Eat little and often to balance your blood sugar levels throughout the day. Address any stress and try to learn to relax- this is very important!. Check for chlamydia and any other sexually transmitted diseases. Come off the contraceptive pill at least three months before trying to conceive.
0.
Vitamins and minerals needed

Zinc and vitamin B6 work in every part of the female sexual cycle, and help produce adequate levels of sex hormones. They also increase the desire for sex! Zinc can be found naturally in oysters, lamb, nuts, egg yolks, rye and oats. Vitamin B6 can be found naturally in cauliflower, watercress, bananas, broccoli, muesli, sunflower seeds and lentils. You need approximately 15mg zinc and 60mg vitamin B6 daily. If you don’t feel you are getting it in your diet, I would suggest a supplement.

Omega 3 is important for healthy hormone functioning, so have a portion of oily fish 2 to 3 times per week.   Help combat free radicals by taking antioxidants, these are vitamins A, C and E.  Vitamin A is found in carrots, sweet potatoes, dried apricots, squash and watercress (vitamin A cannot to be taken during pregnancy). Vitamin C is found in vegetables, peppers, kiwi fruit, tomatoes, citrus fruits and berries. Vitamin E can be found in- nuts, seeds, oily fish, avocados, beans and sweet potatoes. Selenium is found in - brazil nuts, sesame seeds, tuna, cabbage and whole grains

Essential Fatty Acids (Omega 3 and Omega 6) are found in hemp, flax, soybeans, walnuts, seaweed, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, almonds, evening primrose oil, free range eggs

Kate Arnold

Reflexology for sub-fertility and pregnancy

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 08:29:00 +0000

Reflexology can be a wonderful therapy to balance the body, mind and spirit for
Conception, and help mother and baby throughout pregnancy. Over the last few years
I’ve treated three ladies who have had trouble either conceiving, or carrying a baby to full term, two of which now have healthy children, and one who is about to give birth.

Jean had been trying for two years, and was depressed after constant miscarriages.
Her feet were very sore in several places - the uterus, adrenals, fallopian tube and pituitary, all relating to the reproductive area. Because she was stressed, it’s possible
that the adrenals were producing a lot of adrenaline, causing the fallopian tubes to go into spasm and not allowing the egg to pass through. After several treatments, calming these areas and re-balancing, she conceived and carried the baby to full term.

Another lady had had an entopic pregnancy and one fallopian tube removed. She was planning IUI and the consultant gave her only a 15% chance of conceiving. The sore areas on her feet, indicated a thyroid imbalance, (this can affect the hormones for conception), and a tight psoas muscle around the pelvis. Although a thyroid blood test had proved negative, even a slight imbalance can be a problem and a tight psoas may constrict the womb, preventing implantation. Balancing these areas and the whole system, over a period of time, may have assisted IUI. She too conceived and had reflexology throughout pregnancy, givng birth to a healthy baby, which I held at one month old.

Taking supplements to help weak body systems, e.g. nervous, glandular, digestive, etc, can also help the treatment, as can taking She Oak from the Bush flower remedies, which helps to clear any emotional blocks to conception.

A lady who has waited many years to conceive, has had over a year of reflexology, with, at last, a successful IVF treatment, and is now about to give birth. Her feet were extremely sore to touch for some time, but eventually this lessened and the points felt less tight. The thyroid was one of the most painful, and the sinuses, as she had constant sinus and migraine pain. In time, the headaches lessened, and it’s possible that congested sinuses may have had an impact on fertility, as any congestion in the body may affect the fallopian tubes. Reflexology has recently helped with oedema and symphisis pubis pain. The latter occurs when the hormones relaxin and progesterone, cause the ligaments between the pubis and the sacro iliac joint to become more lax and mobile. Pressure points on the feet have eased this condition.

Throughout pregnancy, balancing the endocrine system can assist the changing hormones; lymphatic drainage helps swollen feet and removes toxins; and pregnancy spinal twist and rub eases the spine. There are even points to turn a breech baby, after 38 weeks, with the caregivers permission, and induce labour after full term.

Some midwives train in reflexology, and in the eyes of many, the therapy is second to none for pregnancy and birth.

Lesley Jepps

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