Psoriasis Awareness Month: Understanding the Symptoms, Triggers and Support Available

August is Psoriasis Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness of a condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Psoriasis is often thought of as “just a skin condition”, but for many people it has a much wider impact, affecting confidence, emotional wellbeing, relationships and day-to-day life.

Greater awareness helps people recognise the symptoms, seek advice sooner and understand that support is available.

What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a long-term autoimmune condition that causes skin cells to reproduce much faster than normal. Instead of shedding naturally, the cells build up on the surface of the skin, creating raised, inflamed patches covered with silvery scales.

Psoriasis is not contagious. You cannot catch it from another person through touch or close contact.

There are several types of psoriasis, with plaque psoriasis being the most common.

Common Symptoms of Psoriasis

Symptoms vary from person to person and can range from mild to severe.

Common signs include:

Red, raised patches of skin
Silvery-white scales
Dry, cracked skin that may bleed
Itching, burning or soreness
Thickened, pitted or ridged nails
Flaking of the scalp
Skin that becomes painful during flare-ups
Cracked skin around joints
Symptoms that come and go over time

Some people experience only small patches, while others have symptoms affecting larger areas of the body.

Psoriasis Can Affect More Than Your Skin

Living with psoriasis can affect many aspects of life.

Many people experience:

Reduced confidence and self-esteem
Anxiety or depression
Frustration during flare-ups
Difficulty sleeping due to itching
Discomfort at work or during exercise
Worry about other people’s reactions to visible symptoms
Social withdrawal

The emotional impact is just as real as the physical symptoms.

What Triggers Psoriasis?

Although the exact cause isn’t fully understood, flare-ups can often be triggered by:

Emotional stress
Illness or infections
Skin injuries or cuts
Cold, dry weather
Certain medications
Smoking
Excess alcohol
Hormonal changes
Lack of sleep

Understanding your own triggers can help reduce the frequency or severity of flare-ups.

Psoriatic Arthritis

Around 1 in 3 people with psoriasis may develop psoriatic arthritis, an inflammatory condition affecting the joints.

Symptoms can include:

Joint pain
Morning stiffness
Swollen fingers or toes
Reduced movement
Heel pain
Lower back pain

If you have psoriasis and develop joint symptoms, speak with your GP or healthcare professional.

Looking After Your Skin

Simple daily habits can make a difference.

Helpful self-care includes:

Moisturising your skin regularly
Using fragrance-free skincare products where possible
Avoiding scratching affected areas
Identifying personal triggers
Eating a balanced diet
Staying active
Managing stress
Getting enough sleep
Following any treatment plan recommended by your healthcare team

Can Complementary Therapies Help?

Complementary therapies are not a cure for psoriasis, but many people find they help improve their overall wellbeing while living with a long-term condition. They should be used alongside, rather than instead of, medical care.

At Acorn Natural Health Centre, we offer a range of therapies that may help support people living with psoriasis throughout their journey.

Homeopathy – Jadwiga James

Homeopathy is tailored to the individual rather than the diagnosis. Some people choose homeopathy as part of their wider wellbeing plan to support their overall health.

Nutritional Therapy – Jan Cooper

Nutrition can play an important role in overall health. A personalised nutritional assessment may help identify dietary patterns and support a balanced approach to eating.

Counselling – Ranjana Mitra

Living with a visible skin condition can affect confidence, relationships and mental wellbeing. Counselling provides a safe, confidential space to explore these challenges.

EMDR – Sally Race

For people whose psoriasis has significantly affected confidence, self-image or emotional wellbeing, EMDR may help process distressing experiences and reduce their emotional impact where appropriate.

Reiki – Anne-Marie Walker

Many people use Reiki to encourage deep relaxation and reduce stress, which some individuals identify as one of their flare-up triggers.

Tailored Massage – Anne-Marie Walker, George Timby, Kaylea Morley, Laura Kirkman

Gentle massage may help reduce muscular tension, promote relaxation and provide valuable time for self-care, adapted to individual comfort and needs.

When Should You See a GP?

Seek medical advice if:

You develop a persistent rash that doesn’t improve.
Your symptoms are becoming worse.
Your skin becomes painful or infected.
You develop swollen or painful joints.
Psoriasis is affecting your daily life or emotional wellbeing.

Early assessment can help you access the most appropriate treatment and support.

You’re Not Alone

Living with psoriasis can sometimes feel isolating, but support is available. Whether you are newly diagnosed or have been managing psoriasis for years, reaching out for help can make a real difference.

This Psoriasis Awareness Month, take time to learn about the condition, support someone living with psoriasis, and help challenge the misconceptions surrounding this common autoimmune disease.

How Acorn Natural Health Centre Can Support You

Alongside your medical care, our practitioners offer complementary therapies designed to support your overall wellbeing.

Our team includes:

Jadwiga James – Homeopathy
Jan Cooper – Nutritional Therapy
Ranjana Mitra – Counselling
Sally Race – EMDR
Anne-Marie Walker – Reiki
Anne-Marie Walker, George Timby, Kaylea Morley, Laura Kirkman – Tailored Massage Treatments

If you’d like to learn more about our therapies, we’re happy to discuss which options may be suitable for your individual circumstances.

Contact Acorn Natural Health Centre

Acorn Natural Health Centre
17A Market Place
Heanor, Derbyshire DE75 7AA

Telephone: 01773 687349
Email: hello@acornnaturalhealth.co.uk
Website: www.acornnaturalhealth.co.uk

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Sarcoma Awareness Month: Knowing the Signs and Supporting the Whole Person

General Health & Wellbeing, Therapies Posted by Jadwiga Thu, July 02, 2026 10:43AM

Every July, Sarcoma Awareness Month shines a light on a group of cancers that many people know very little about. Although sarcomas are rare, early recognition is important, as prompt diagnosis can make a significant difference to treatment and outcomes.

Unlike many cancers that develop within organs, sarcomas begin in the body’s connective tissues. This includes muscles, tendons, ligaments, fat, blood vessels, nerves, cartilage, and bone. Because connective tissue is found throughout the body, sarcomas can develop almost anywhere.

What is a sarcoma?

Sarcoma is the name given to more than 100 different types of cancer that fall into two main groups:

Soft tissue sarcomas, which develop in tissues such as muscle, fat, nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue.
Bone sarcomas, which begin within the bones themselves.

Sarcomas are uncommon, accounting for around 1% of adult cancers, but they can affect people of any age, including children and young adults.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms depend on where the sarcoma develops, which is one reason diagnosis can sometimes be delayed.

Some of the more common signs include:

a lump that continues to grow
a lump larger than around 5 cm (roughly the size of a golf ball)
persistent pain in a limb or other area of the body
swelling that does not settle
reduced movement or stiffness around a joint
unexplained bone pain, particularly if it occurs at night
an unexpected fracture following only minor injury

Many lumps are harmless and are not cancer. However, any lump that continues to grow, becomes painful, or feels unusual should always be assessed by a healthcare professional.

Why awareness matters

Because sarcomas are rare, people often assume a lump is simply a pulled muscle, a cyst, a lipoma, or an old sports injury. Sometimes healthcare professionals may initially consider these more common explanations too.

This is why awareness campaigns are so valuable. They encourage people to pay attention to changes that persist rather than waiting to see if they disappear on their own.

Knowing your own body and seeking medical advice when something changes is never wasting anyone’s time.

Looking beyond the diagnosis

A diagnosis of sarcoma affects much more than physical health. Treatment may involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or rehabilitation, often over many months. Alongside this can come fatigue, uncertainty, anxiety, changes in mobility, altered body image, and the emotional impact that naturally accompanies serious illness.

While medical treatment remains the priority, many people also look for additional ways to support themselves throughout diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.

Complementary therapies are not a replacement for medical care, but they may help support wellbeing alongside conventional treatment when appropriate and agreed with the medical team.

How complementary therapies may help

Living with cancer often means coping with physical, emotional, and practical challenges all at once. Different approaches may support different aspects of wellbeing.

Jadwiga James offers homeopathy, taking an individualised approach that considers the whole person rather than the diagnosis alone. Some people choose homeopathy alongside conventional cancer care to support their emotional wellbeing, resilience, and general health throughout their treatment journey.

Anne-Marie Walker offers Reiki, a gentle, non-invasive therapy that many people find deeply calming. Reiki is often chosen during or after cancer treatment as a way of encouraging relaxation, reducing stress, and providing quiet time to rest and reconnect.

Jan Cooper, nutritional therapist, supports people in maintaining good nutrition throughout treatment and recovery. As appetite, digestion, taste, and energy levels can all change during cancer treatment, personalised nutritional advice may help people meet their changing needs and support their overall wellbeing.

Sally Race offers hypnotherapy and EMDR, providing support for anxiety, stress, emotional adjustment, and coping with the uncertainty that can accompany a cancer diagnosis. Learning ways to regulate the nervous system may help people feel calmer and better equipped to navigate treatment and recovery.

Ranjana Mitra provides counselling in a safe, compassionate environment where people can explore the emotional impact of diagnosis, treatment, changing relationships, uncertainty, and life beyond cancer. Having the opportunity to talk openly with someone can be an important source of support for both individuals and their families.

Our therapists offer treatments in the calming surroundings of Acorn Natural Health Centre in Heanor, Derbyshire as well as online.

Working alongside medical care

Every person’s experience of sarcoma is different. Some recover quickly, while others face longer treatment and rehabilitation. Whatever the journey looks like, no one should feel they have to manage it alone.

Medical care forms the foundation of sarcoma treatment. Alongside this, emotional, nutritional, physical, and psychological support can help people maintain quality of life and feel supported as a whole person, not simply a diagnosis.

If you would like to learn more about sarcoma, its symptoms, diagnosis, or treatment, we have included links below to the NHS and Sarcoma UK, where you can find reliable, up-to-date information and additional support.

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Reflexology and the Nervous System: Finding Your Way Back to Balance

Therapies Posted by Jadwiga Wed, July 01, 2026 10:01AM

by Anne-Marie Walker

Have you ever felt exhausted but unable to switch off?

Like your mind is constantly racing, your body feels tense, and even when you sit down to relax, you don’t actually feel relaxed?

You’re not alone.

One of the biggest things I see in my treatment room is people living with overwhelmed nervous systems. We live in a world where we’re constantly connected, constantly busy, and often carrying far more than we realise. Over time, this can leave us feeling stressed, anxious, drained, and disconnected from ourselves.

This is one of the reasons I love reflexology so much.

Many people come for a reflexology treatment because they want to relax, but what they often don’t realise is just how powerful that relaxation can be for the nervous system and overall wellbeing.

What Is the Nervous System?

Think of your nervous system as your body’s communication network. It controls everything from your breathing and digestion to your sleep, emotions, energy levels, and stress responses.

It has two main modes:

The first is your fight, flight, or freeze response. This is designed to keep you safe when you face danger or stress.

The second is your rest, digest, and restore response. This is where healing, repair, and regeneration happen.

The challenge is that many of us spend so much time rushing, worrying, and juggling responsibilities that our bodies forget how to fully switch into that healing state.

How an Imbalanced Nervous System Shows Up

An overwhelmed nervous system doesn’t always look like obvious stress.

It can show up as:

Feeling tired all the time
Difficulty sleeping or waking in the night
Anxiety or overwhelm
Brain fog
Digestive issues
Headaches or muscle tension
Feeling emotional or reactive
Low energy and lack of motivation
Feeling disconnected from yourself
Struggling to switch off and relax

I often get told by people, “I don’t feel stressed,” but their body is telling a different story.

Our bodies are incredibly wise. They are always communicating with us. The question is whether we’re listening.

Why This Matters for Your Health and Spiritual Wellbeing

When our nervous system is constantly on high alert, the body prioritises survival over healing.

This can affect sleep, digestion, immunity, hormone balance, energy levels, and emotional wellbeing.

From a spiritual perspective, it also affects our connection to ourselves.

When we’re constantly rushing from one thing to the next, it’s difficult to hear our intuition. It’s harder to feel connected to our guides, our inner wisdom, and the gentle nudges that are always available to us.

Many people spend years searching for more clarity, more peace, or a deeper spiritual connection when what they really need is to feel safe enough to slow down.

A regulated nervous system creates space for that connection to happen.

How Reflexology Can Help

One of the beautiful things about reflexology is that it encourages the body to move out of stress mode and into a state of deep relaxation.

Reflexology is based on the principle that the feet mirror and connect to the whole body. Different reflex points on the feet correspond with different organs, glands, and body systems. By gently working these reflex points, reflexology helps the body to move back into balance and harmony.

As I work on the feet, I am not simply treating the feet themselves. Through these reflex points, I am supporting the whole person – body, mind, and spirit.

The treatment creates an opportunity for the nervous system to slow down and shift into a more restorative state. Breathing often becomes deeper, muscles begin to soften, and the mind becomes quieter.

Many clients tell me they feel calmer after a treatment than they have in weeks.

Others notice they sleep better, feel more emotionally balanced, have more energy, or simply feel more like themselves again.

Reflexology isn’t about forcing the body to do anything. Instead, it works with the body’s own wisdom, encouraging it to move back towards balance naturally. Sometimes this feels like deep relaxation. Sometimes it brings a sense of clarity, grounding, or emotional release. Every experience is unique because every person is unique.

Above all, reflexology offers something many of us rarely give ourselves: permission to pause, reset, and receive.

Supporting Your Nervous System Every Day

While regular reflexology treatments can be incredibly supportive, there are also simple things you can do at home to help your nervous system feel safer and more balanced.

Slow Your Breathing

Your breath is one of the quickest ways to communicate safety to your nervous system.

Try taking a slow breath in through your nose and an even slower breath out through your mouth. Just a few minutes can make a difference.

Spend Time in Nature

Nature has a wonderful way of helping us regulate. A walk in the woods, sitting in the garden, or simply noticing the sky can help bring us back to the present moment.

Create Moments of Stillness

You don’t need an hour-long meditation practice.

Five minutes with a cup of tea, pulling an oracle card, journaling, or simply sitting quietly can help your nervous system reset and reconnect.

Prioritise Rest

Rest is not something we earn. It is something we need.

Giving yourself permission to slow down is one of the most healing things you can do.

Connect With Your Body

Many of us spend so much time in our heads that we forget to check in with our bodies. Gentle movement, stretching, walking, receiving a treatment, or simply placing your hands on your heart and taking a few conscious breaths can help bring you back into the present moment.

A Final Thought

I truly believe that many of us don’t need to become more productive, do more, or push harder.

We need to feel safe.

Safe enough to rest.

Safe enough to receive.

Safe enough to reconnect with ourselves.

Reflexology offers a beautiful opportunity to do exactly that.

By working the reflex points on the feet that mirror the whole body, reflexology gently encourages the body and nervous system to return to a state of balance. In that space, healing can begin, stress can soften, and we can reconnect with ourselves on a deeper level.

Whether you’re struggling with stress, anxiety, poor sleep, overwhelm, or simply feel like you’ve lost your sense of balance, reflexology can provide a gentle space for your body, mind, and soul to come back into harmony.

Sometimes the most powerful healing begins when we simply allow ourselves to stop, breathe, and be.

Anne Marie Allen
Reflexologist, Aromatherapist, Massage Therapist, Reiki Master & Soul Alignment Mentor, holding sessions online and face to face from Acorn Natural Health Centre in Heanor, Derbyshire.

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Plan the Imperfect wedding!

Therapies Posted by Jadwiga Thu, May 28, 2026 12:54PM

By Ranjana Mitra

As summer approaches, many couples are obsessing over the final details of their “perfect” wedding. Endless discussions about menus and table settings. Agonising over who makes the guest list, where to seat the awkward uncle, and how to include one child but no others. Vast amounts of time, emotional energy, and hard‑earned money are poured into getting everything just right. For some, even mealtimes lose their pleasure as the scales stubbornly refuse to cooperate.

But what is all this perfection actually for?

Will a flawless day and a beautiful wedding album rescue you when you stop speaking to each other for days after a serious disagreement? Will the memory of one glorious afternoon soothe you when a door is slammed and your partner storms out after a heated argument?

The raised voices, cold silences, and silent sulks will happen—not because love has faded, but because everyday life is messy and we are all imperfect. Love and good intentions alone do not smooth the bumps in a relationship. What matters is how you navigate the potholes without damaging the car beyond repair.

Instead of pouring all your resources into planning the perfect wedding, invest instead in the resilience of your partnership. Talk openly—and practice—how to manage differences without demanding your partner change who they are or abandon their values. Spend some of the money earmarked for the wedding on a pre wedding holiday somewhere that is on neither’s preferred list of destinations, but ticks some boxes for you both. See how you can learn to enjoy a compromise.

See whether you can compromise on the guest list or rethink the honeymoon destination if these become sticking points. Choose kindness. Invite your elderly aunt even if her social skills are lacking—quietly enjoying the celebration from the sidelines may be the highlight of her entire month.

If relatively minor issues feel non‑negotiable now, how will you handle the bigger challenges ahead—those that truly test your ability to listen, empathise, and find common ground? And what example will you set for your children as they learn how to navigate an imperfect world?

A fairytale wedding does not guarantee a fairytale life. But the ability to embrace—and even enjoy—an imperfect wedding may be one of the best indicators of a warm, happy, and beautifully imperfect relationship.

Dr Ranjana Mitra is a Relationship Counsellor specialising in Couples Therapy. She sees clients at Acorn Natural Health Centre in Heanor, Derbyshire.

Find out more about working with Ranjana

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