Acorn Health Blog

Summer and warm weather are approaching in big steps (or so I hope!)

Are you planning a vacation or a stay-cation this year?

Hotel at the seaside or a camping trip?

Evening strolls on the beach or a BBQ in the garden?

Whatever your plans are, I have some tips to make your holidays less stressful with a little help from….

HOMEOPATHY

Homeopathic remedies are indispensable both in long and short-stay journeys.

I always take my Homeopathic First Aid kit with me whenever I go away.
Why, you might wonder?

Well, that’s because I like to refer to natural and toxin-free ways for dealing with health problems, whether they are painful grazed knees, itchy mosquito bites or a headache from being in the sun for too long!

Homeopathy has over 4000 remedies, so it is very easy to feel baffled when trying to depict which one is the most suitable for your problem.

As I like to make life as nice and easy as possible, I thought I will put list of some of the most common problems experienced by holidaymakers at the start of they journey with the most popular remedies needed to alleviate them 🙂

I think every one of us knows somebody who is scared of flying (or maybe it’s even you!).

If the thought of going on an airplane makes you feel dizzy and turns your legs into jelly, you can try to take a dose (or two) of Gelsemium before venturing out on your journey to the airport, and then again whilst waiting to board.

Motion sickness? Not a problem! Motion sickness can affect us in different ways (and so we might need different remedies to address it), two of the most common scenarios are:

If you go pale, cold (yet sweaty) and shivery, then you would certainly benefit from a remedy called Tabacum, you can take it before a planned journey as well as during, if needs be.

If, however, the worst thing during travelling is the smell (or even thought) of food, your stomach feels cold and hollow whilst the rest of your body is all trembley and weak, you can opt for Cocculus.

Jetlag is definitely one of the problems which can put you off enjoying your getaway to the full for the first few days. To prevent and ease the possibility of feeling jetlagged, you can take Arnica just before, during and after the journey.

Did you know that you can use homeopathy for both minor problems and chronic conditions?

We offer a FREE 15 minute introductory chat is you’d like to see if Homeopathy would be a suitable option for you, you can even book online:

https://acorncentre.simplybook.it/v2/#book/category/7/service/249/count/1/

Watery, itchy, bloodshot eyes, blocked up or runny nose, sneezing
or fatigue….?

These are just some of the symptoms allergic rhinitis otherwise
known as hay fever can bring as the months start to get sunnier.

Hay fever is caused by an allergic reaction to airborne substances.
The body’s immune system becomes overly sensitive and over reacts to the
substance, causing histamine to be released, this histamine causes the symptoms
associated with hay fever.

What substances can cause allergic rhinitis/hay fever…?

Tree pollen: late
March – mid May

Grass pollen: mid May –
July

Weed pollen: late June
– September

As well as mould spores, dust mites, pet hair/dander,

I’ve put together a few natural tips you can try at home to help
combat hay fever, so you can have your best summer ever:

1.
Omega 3. The “bunged up”
sensation is caused by the mucus membranes in the nose becoming inflamed. Foods
such as chia seeds, salmon, mackerel and walnuts are rich in omega 3 which is a
great anti-inflammatory.

2.
A spoon of local honey a day
could help desensitise your immune system to the local pollen helping to reduce
symptoms.

3.
2/3 cups of green tea a day. Green tea is reported to boost the immune
system and is a powerful antioxidant and may also be able to help reduce
inflammation.

4.
Your 5 a day is full of allergy
fighting flavonoids, as well as antioxidants and vitamin c for the immune
system. Did you know vitamin c is also a great natural antihistamine.

5.
Fresh pineapple contains
bromelain a good natural anti-inflammatory a refreshingly juicy way to help
with the “bunged up” sensation helping you to breathe easier.

6.
Lower your stress, stress can
really affect your immune system.

7.
Garlic a natural anti histamine,
anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and decongestant…!!!

8.
Spices….a good chilli or
anything spicy containing chilli peppers can help to unblock the nose,
capsaicin found in chilli peppers, helps to break down mucus causing it to flow.

9.
Rinse your hair regularly to
get rid of any pollen which has got trapped

10. Brush or bathe cats and dogs regularly to reduce the pollen
coming in on their fur

11. Avoid histamine producing foods and drink such as pickles, cured
and smoked meat, nuts, alcohol and cheese

Starting from the beginning of June I’m going to be offering a new
treatment aimed at helping people suffering with allergic rhinitis/hay fever. The
treatment will be combining reflexology, aromatherapy and facial massage.

So how can this blend of treatments help…?

Reflexology is wonderfully relaxing and can help boost the immune
system as well as relieve and open congested sinuses, reduced stress, help to
clear a stuffy head and reduce inflammation.

I’ll also be using a special blend of aromatherapy oils that act
as a natural antihistamine, anti-inflammatory and decongestant

Whilst the facial massage tops your treatment off deeply relaxing
you, helping to reduce stress, to clear the sinuses and bring relief to itchy
eyes.

This new treatment is £40 get in touch to find out more or to book
your treatment.

I hope you enjoy trying out these natural tips and have lots of
success with them let me know how you get on….!!

By Eileen Strong Therapeutic Massage & Holistic Complementary Therapist

I attended
my first ever massage training course more than 20 years ago, and loved
it.

I have learnt various massage techniques since that time and a range of
other therapies too. It was a just 3
years ago that I decided to learn some new skills and undertake specialist
training for the Hydrotherm Massage system to become an approved Hydrotherm
therapist. I was drawn to Hydrotherm
because their suite of massages included
pregnancy massage and, the one that really caught my attention; massage for
people on their cancer journey. Most of
us have had our lives touched by cancer in some way, and I’m no exception. Being able to give back to those in need,
when they need it most, is something I feel strongly about.

As many of
you know, we have a wonderful range of different massages available for you to
enjoy at Acorn. The Hydrotherm Massage
system is a little different in that the client reclines on the treatment couch
upon cushions filled with warm water for their entire massage. Since the person doesn’t have to roll over
during their massage, it’s super relaxing and is especially ideal for anyone
with mobility problems, or who finds it uncomfortable laying on their stomach.

You can
take a look at the massage system here Hydrotherm Quick Peek.

Endorsed by
Penny Brohn Cancer Care, the Tranquil Sea Hydrotherm massage takes this deeply
relaxing treatment a step further. The
training has allowed me to gain confidence and competence when working with
clients who are currently being treated for cancer, or have a history of
cancer.

Massage misunderstood

I was
particularly drawn to learning the Tranquil Sea massage because back in 2008 at
the massage training school, we were taught that on no account should we
massage anyone with cancer. Historically, until very recent times,
it has always been a grey area in the
massage industr. This is largely due
to a plethora of myths surrounding
whether massage is safe whilst undergoing cancer treatment. There is also an additional rule, however, that if someone has a letter of permission
from their GP, then they CAN have a massage.
But if a therapist isn’t given specialist training about how to perform
or adapt a massage for someone on their cancer journey, how can they possibly
know whether it is safe or not. Confusing? Absolutely.

I was
recently quite surprised to learn that there’s still around 70 per cent of spas
in the UK that continue to operate an outright ban on offering their services
to people who have previously had, or are in treatment for, cancer.

This issue
really hit the media in January 2018 when Jo Mackie was refused a massage and
manicure at Center Parks where she was celebrating her 50th
birthday. Asked what she thought about
being turned away by Centre Parcs, Ms Mackie told ITV London:

“Fundamentally, I think it’s humiliating
– you fight tooth and nail as a cancer patient to beat a disease which is
potential life threatening only to be told you can’t do something as normal as
have a massage….. It’s ridiculous .”

Ms Mackie sued Center
Parcs over her experience. The company said in a statement: “If a guest
has a medical condition or had undergone a medical treatment we do ask for a
letter from their GP, as therapists are not medically trained.”

The issue is, therefore,
ensuring that therapists are adequately and expertly trained to be able to
provide a safe and comfortable massage for anyone at any stage of their cancer
journey. No one with cancer should ever
get turned away from a treatment, I think you’d agree.

Informed understanding

Scientific
research is moving forward all the time and we now have a much deeper
understanding about different types of cancer and how they spread within the
body.

We also know that cancer treatments such as
chemotherapy and radiotherapy effect not only the cancer cells, but also surrounding
healthy cells too. This can compromise the strength and function of
body systems, organs and tissue while the person is in recovery.

A typical
example of this would be where lymph nodes have been surgically removed, or
where radiotherapy has been directed to an area where lymph nodes
proliferate. If the lymph system becomes
compromised, a massage carried out by an
untrained therapist could potentially overload the system and contribute in the longer term to
other complications such as Lymphodema ( why lymph fluid cannot flow freely and
backs up, causing pain and swelling)

This is
just one example of why a massage might need to be adapted, and why a massage
therapist should have the knowledge and skill to know what to do.

Massage is good for you!

In treating the person holistically as
a whole, the Amethyst Trust in conjunction with Penny Brohn Cancer Care says
that in their experience, regular massage can:

·
Lead to improved physical and emotional
confidence

·
Help people express emotions and deal
with anger

·
Reduce isolation and reduce fear

·
Reduce nausea

·
Restore a sense of balance and
wellbeing

·
Provide a sense of calm

·
Reduce symptoms of pain and discomfort

·
Improve sleep

·
Help people to feel special

We know that hospices and treatment
units have been providing massage and other relaxational therapies to patients
for a many years, because they know how beneficial it is.

As one previous cancer patient
explained, “ I just needed to shut down and have time for me away from
everything, I just wanted to feel human again;
it is important that therapists don’t treat a cancer sufferer with fear,
but learn how to treat us safely; adapting treatments and treating us as
“normal”. It made my life just that
little bit easier in a time when I felt my life had changed forever.”

So the reality is that massage is
perfectly safe if adaptations are made and there has never been any scientific
evidence behind the contention that massage can spread cancer.

Both at Acorn Natural Health Centre and
my own practice at home in Milford, I’m
delighted to be able to provide a confident and competent massage therapy for
anyone on their cancer journey, without the need for a signed GP referral.

In addition to being a certified
Hydrotherm Tranquil Sea therapist, I’ve also undertaken intensive 3 day
training in Cancer Touch Therapy. The
two treatments compliment each other beautifully, and can both be considered wonderful spa style treatments
in their own right, suitable for everyone, whatever their health challenges may
be, including people on their cancer journey.

Clients who have these treatments give
wonderful feedback. It isn’t just the treatment itself, but also
the one to one care, the supportive touch, and complete time out all
really help.

If you would like more information
about the massage therapies and other services I provide, then please get in
touch to arrange a free, no-obligation consultation.

SPRINGTIME
SPECIAL OFFER on 90 MIN TRANQUIL SEA TREATMENTS – you can click on the link to book and enter the redeem code: TRANQUILSEA90 or get in touch to find out more and book. Offer expires on 1st June 2019.
Contact: 01773 687349 or 07745409059.

By Jadwiga James – Homeopath & Herbalist, Access Bars practitioner

Do you go to work you might not enjoy, come back home just
to sleep and to go to work again… and nothing ever happens or changes?

Do you feel like you are stuck in a role of just being a
carer for everyone?

Are you ending one abusive relationship just to enter
another one which soon proves to be no different?

Are you trapped in a circle of losing weight just to put it
back on?

Whatever your loop is, I have some good news for you: you
created it and so you have the power to change it.

How do you do that?

By changing the pattern you identified yourself with at some
point in your life and then decided to follow. This pattern might have been
present in your family for generations and ingrained onto you or you might have
created it from scratch as a response to one of your life’s events.

You can compare it to an electrical circuit which is always
turned on and running in the background of your life.

Talking about electricity… Did you ever notice the
difference in the air during the power cut? Could you hear the silence? It’s
surprising how we actually learn to live among a constant electrical hum and
come to believe that it’s not there, we don’t listen out for it, yet notice
straight away the echo it leaves when it’s absent.

Did you ever notice that your thoughts are just as constant
as the humming appliances? Always there in the background, each of them running
its own cycle in an endless loop:

About things you’ve done.

About things you didn’t do.

About things you were supposed to do.

About things you would like to do.

About things you need to do in the future, etc.

Each of these thoughts is broadcasting an emotional charge.
You might not even notice you are carrying it within yourself until an outer
circumstance brings it up to the fore, causing an upheaval.
What would it feel like to turn the constant buzz of your
thoughts off? Would you be willing to experience the silence? …and in that silence
recognise a space, space which would provide room for you to make different
connections, thoughts and decisions?

What if that space and silence would allow you to break the
ever-playing loop and create something new, something which would serve your
purpose?

Would you allow yourself to relax, feel at peace with
yourself and even fall asleep?

What if I told you that most of the people I see end up
dozing off or falling into a deep sleep during my Access Bars sessions?

That’s because Access Bars has the ability to change brain
waves into Theta frequency, a frequency which we normally experience very
briefly in the time before we fall asleep and which is linked to activation of
your creativity and intuition.

What could you create in your life if you allowed yourself enough
space and silence?

I offer Access Bars taster session £20, Access Bars focused clearing £30 and Access Bars full transformation. Get in touch to find out more or book your place.