Healthwise Clinic Natural Health Blog

A report into period pain conducted with 650 female  students at the University of Birmingham concludes that no link was found between exercise and removing period pain.

“After taking into account mood, ethnicity, weight, smoking, and use of the contraceptive pill, they found no link with how much exercise a woman did and whether she suffered from period pain, or how bad her pain was.”

At Healthwise we never assume that exercise on its own is the answer but the right exercise combined with the right diet, and the right attitude at the right stage in the month can contribute greatly.

Acupuncture is often the catalyst which can get the body balanced and reduce pain, and increase a feeling of well-being.  We don’t just want to stop period pain but help women feel well and enjoy life.

Even more interesting is the comment by Professor Steve Field who is Chairman of the College of GPs – as reported on the BBC -

“Some exercise is good for you of course but the main treatment for period pain is the contraceptive pill.”

We strongly dispute this and in our experience at Healthwise the main treatment for period pain is to get to the source of the unbalanced energy.

Professor Field is also quoted as saying  “It is a common problem and people usually self medicate”.

Self medication presumably means pain killers which again are not correcting the original problem.  Period pain may be common, unfortunately, but it is most definitely not normal.

Andrew Loosely will explain all this in more detail in an ebook to be published shortly.  If you have period pain and would like to be notified when the book is released please sign up to the newsletter list.  The book will help all women to understand the four stages of the monthly cycle, and the food, exercise and approach that is needed at all stages throughout the month.

Please don’t take the contraceptive pill assuming that is the best route to pain-free periods.

Read more about the research

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Eating the right food in winter begins with thinking about how our food can best sustain us during the winter period.  While the weather is colder we need food that will warm us because of its temperature, and it is the season to add spices which are also warming to the body.

So please do not eat cold ice-cream or drinks straight from the fridge during winter.  Better to have warm oven-baked food, preferably with some spices added.

Ginger is particularly good during winter and will help the circulation in the cold.  Cinammon and Fennel are excellent right now, but if you are trying to conceive please avoid these after ovulation.

If you have any digestive problems telephone the clinic 44 (0) 1628 668339 and claim your free 15 minute consultation.

Anti aging creams have been found to encourage a risk of cancer.

There are so many anti-aging processes available to women and men from Botox to the surgeon’s knife, that anti-aging creams have seemed like a safe alternative.

We all want to look better for longer – how can a simple cream be harmful?

The views of a US professor have been published this week in the tabloids .. he thinks anti-aging creams could be the most dangerous cosmetic products on the market.

At Heathwise we believe in natural, not chemical products.  Even if we are assured that the chemical quantities are so slight that they cannot make a difference, the incremental toxic overload in cosmetic and bodycare products is harmful.

The additional factor is that the environment generally has become more toxic and minor increases in toxins from a multitude of different sources adds up to dangerous quantities.

Far better to use a natural product to enhance beauty like Beauty Balm.  The skin will not be stripped, and the product is certified by the Soil Association.. so it is good for the planet, too.

Fibroids are a problem that make life difficult for a great many women.

We are interested to see there is a free conference addressing the problems of fibroids in London on Wednesday 16th September.  For more details see here.

Fibroids and their treatment will be discussed at length in Andrew Loosely’s forthcoming book which will be available in October.   Contrary to what many people assume, there is a great deal you can do to alleviate the problem without resorting to the knife.

The Story: An overweight employee at a pizza shop in the USA received a back injury from a freezer door.  It was decided that he needed surgery to improve his back.  His employers agreed to pay for the surgery for the back, but were then told he would first need a “weight-loss” operation to make the operation on his back successful.  He weighs 340 pounds ( 24 stone).

The employer refused to pay.  A court in Indianapolis has now ordered them to pay  for both operations.

This is definitely a first of its kind… and is an extreme response to an extreme situation.

It is safe to assume that the back problem was exacerbated by the weight, and therefore a natural reduction in weight would seem to be a better route to health.  Although the surgeon’s knife can accomplish amazing results dietary and lifestyle changes can bring about a more natural and permanent solution.

We have often seen patients condition so improved that surgery becomes unnecessary.

A story such as this is making news and obviously has widespread impact for employers and the overweight.  It looks like an extreme situation, but stories like these are likely to become more common.

Obesity is growing rapidly.  As long ago as 2005 64% of US citizens were overweight or obese, and figures are increasing all the time.  Obesity in Britain also continues to rise, with children as young as two now being classified as obese.

An NHS report in February 2009 found that in 2007 24% of the adult population was obese.  Roughly a third of adults said they did eat 5 portions of fruit or vegetables a day, and interestingly over two thirds stated that they would like to take more physical exercise.

Unless there is a dramatic shift in behaviour, it looks as though the health of the developed world is in jeopardy.  Stories about obesity, heart disease, diabetes as well as surgery and litigation are likely to become commonplace.

” I’m Yours” the song sung by Jason Mraz has been in the charts for nearly a year and a half.   Is it so popular simply because it helps people feel good? Despite the global financial melt down at heart we want to be happy and for life to be simple.  Here is the live version in front of a rapt audience.

The tune sticks in your head, life seems less complicated, and you relax.  At Healthwise we are interested in anything that helps people feel better.  Because the better you feel, the better your health.

We also love the words.  Why?  Because Jason refers to two of the big health concepts of traditional chinese medicine which are cornerstones for us here at Healthwise.

“I’ve been spending way too long checking my tongue in the mirror”

Yes you can tell a lot by looking at your tongue in the mirror!  The most obvious thing is the colour but the size, and the shape are also very important indicators of your health.

“Rid yourself of vanity just go with the seasons“.

We don’t know if Jason does know about traditional chinese medicine but the seasons are a vital concept for health.  Each season is connected to a different part of the body system and therefore different health issues are best addressed in the relevant season.

Take the advice in the song and “don’t complicate our time” just watch the song and relax!  Jason, Mr Toca (and the gnome) are here for you!

I’m Yours sung by Jason Mraz live

Did it make you feel good?

Now go and look at your tongue in the mirror! If you want help, get in touch..

The average number of children born to each woman in Britain has risen from 1.63 in 2001 to 1.96 in 2008, the highest since 1973.

The baby-boom is fuelled by rising fertility rates as well as  immigration.  The population of the United Kingdom has now reached 61 million.

More than a quarter of a million children were born last year as fertility rates reached the highest levels in a generation according to the Office of National Statistics.

The rise in births helped to increase the overall population in the country by 408,000, the biggest annual rise since 1962.

Image of baby by christine

Births are increasing because women born in Britain are having more babies and also because the number of women of child-bearing age has risen by 20 per cent because of immigration since 2001.

There were 791,000 babies born in 2008, an increase of 33,000 on the previous year. More than half of this rise came from births to mothers born outside Britain, but living in the UK.

In London, 55 per cent of all births were to mothers born outside the country.

Roma Chappell, deputy director of demography at the ONS, said that the changes to the overall fertility rates were highly significant.

“It’s actually quite exciting because it’s the highest fertility rate we have seen in the UK for some time. You have to go all the way back to 1973 to find a time when the fertility rate went higher,” she said.

The World Health organisation is telling people who are normally healthy to not take Tamiflu if they think they may have Swine Flu.

This is a refreshing approach to the virus hitting drug, and a contrast to the medication-friendly recommendations made by the British NHS.  Of course The World Health Organisation has world-wide responsibilities for health and there will be parts of the world where medication such as Tamiflu is simply not available or too expensive.  And the NHS deserves credit for responding to fears about swine flu and providing Tamiflu on such a large scale.

However the WHO recommendation is a useful reminder.   If you are a normally healthy person your approach should be to let your body naturally fight infection.  It is what bodies are designed to do!

Rather than panicking about Swine Flu, a healthy adult can expect viral infections, and expect to get through them.  Of course you need to look after yourself, and definitely take it easy in both body and mind, but there is no need to rush to the pharmaceutical giants for your health.

The WHO states that if Tamiflu is taken on a world-wide scale the Swine Flu virus is likely to become stronger and more resistant to the medication.  So drugs that are ideal for vulnerable people become ineffective.

The best way to fight any infection at all is to ensure that your general health and well-being is good.  This involves diet, exercise and your mind as well as your body.

Modern living can be stressful, and a general boost through acupuncture and herbs to correct any imbalances enables you to fight viruses wherever they come from.  A long-lasting solution rather than a quick hit with Tamiflu.

With all the current panic surrounding swine flu, what are we to do – Get on with our lives and hope for the best or hide away from the world wishing it would all go away?
Western and Eastern medicine have different perspectives on how best to deal with this issue. As a pharmacist and a practitioner of natural medicine we find that a combination of both approaches is the most effective way in fighting this pandemic before it gets out of control.
Both trains of thought would agree that prevention is better than cure. The campaign to CATCH IT, BIN IT, KILL IT aims to reduce the spread by encouraging good hand hygiene.
From a treatment point of view, western medicine suggests the best option is with the anti-viral tamiflu. This is currently available in England when you meet the symptom criteria. At this point you are given a reference number for a designated medical centre and your healthy friend collects it for you. Tamiflu doesn’t cure the virus but is believed to speed up the rate of recovery.
Chinese medicine, when dealing with an epidemic, takes the same initial precautions as western medicine but the treatment approach is where it differs. This is comprised of a combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine to help the body fight off the virus naturally. During the SARS outbreak many people were successfully treated using herbal medicine made up of very strong anti-viral plants. This approach helps the body fight off the virus more efficiently and completely without side effects. The best approach of course is prevention and again herbs are used for this. There is a simple 3 herb combination that has been proven in clinical trials to be very effective in increasing immune function. This helps to protect against contracting the virus in the first place.
A few tips to protect yourself from the pandemic
1. Ensure good hand hygiene by washing hands after sneezing, coughing and after being in public places.
2. Follow the campaign “CATCH IT, BIN IT, KILL IT” by having a supply of clean tissues with you at all times. Use each tissue only once.
3. Keeping your immune system strong is vital. Try to get plenty of sleep, eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables and try to avoid sugar and alcohol as they quickly weaken immunity.

By Philip Crilly and Andrew Loosely

We are really pleased to welcome Philip Crilly on board at Healthwise. He is a Pharmacist working for a leading high street brand and writes a regular health column. He will be writing articles, books and blogs alongside Andrew and will be offering a western viewpoint on any health issues discussed. We are very excited about this partnership as it now allows us to discuss every health complaint from both the western and eastern perspectives. We hope you enjoy our joint venture and hope that this will give further insight into creating a healthy lifestyle.