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Holistic Health & Wellbeing CentreOnline Clinic Hours - Mondays
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Response Schedule - Mondays 10am - 10pm I will be accessible online while I update the information available to you through this site. I can't guarentee that I will respond immediately as you might catch me in the middle of updating... however I will respond as soon as I am free.
You can leave your questions here but be aware that this is a live space and others have visual access.
Or you can email me through the profile data, this will ensure your identity is kept private. please be aware however that ALL questions asked are made available via this space unless you request otherwise.
Private Online Appointments Available HERE
Introduction to Holistic Health and Wellbeing Course
This popular course is open again, to apply follow this LINK
Mental Health and Worklessness Action Plan SummaryThe Holistic Health Centre is now operating within the community by offering a Health and Wellbeing Clinic based at the Springwell Learning Centre in Gateshead
Details of Clinic Hours can be found HERE
Mental Health and Worklessness Location:Springwell Learning Centre - Commenced 22/09/2008 Summary:Residents on Springwell Estate display high levels of incapacity/sick benefit claims associated with mental health issues. Opening a holistic health and wellbeing clinic three times a week from 10am-2pm alongside health and wellbeing education tackles this issue at the grass roots level.
The Holistic Health Centre provides a vehicle for considering how to address difficult cross cutting issues by building community vision in an integrated way as the heart of creating sustainable development at the local level Area:The project takes place in Springwell, but advertising is hoped to reach Springwell, Seven Stars, Beacon Lough East and Meadow Rise Issue:Mental health and Worklessness are inextricably linked making them priority issues which require attention. Partnerships and Funding:No partnerships and/or funding as of commencement date 22/09/2008 Funding Needed forStart Up Costs - Estimated at £1500 £300 - Fundamental requirements i.e. phone installation, internet access £150 - Stationary £500 - Teaching Aids £100 - Containers £150 - Base Products £300 - Treatment Aids
Running Costs - £500 per week; £26,000 per annum £300 per week; £15,600 per annum - Clinic and Teaching Wage £150 per week; £7800 per annum - Clinic and Teaching Admin and Marketing £20 per week; £1040 per annum - CPD Continual Professional Development £30 per week; £1560 per annum - Incidental unforeseen costs
Action:The Holistic Health Centre plan facilitates change toward community cohesion, healthier living and greater wellbeing
Holistic Health Centre: Mental health and Worklessness Action Plan available HERE Gateshead Community Strategy challenges supportedHealth - local people living longer, healthier lives
Lifelong Learning - local people who learn throughout their lives and have the life skills to realise their full potential as individuals and active citizens South East Action Plan key actions supportedLifelong Learning - widening participation in lifelong learning opportunities in community settings by the whole community
Health - improve access to locally based health provision
Employment and Economy - local people who have the skills and opportunities to access jobs in the public and private sectors in and around Gateshead; more businesses locating forming and growing in Gateshead Stress Guide - Further Causes of StressFurther Causes of Everyday StressMajor events such as bereavement or illness are obviously stressful. Yet happy occasions, such as getting married or moving house, can also put you under a lot of pressure Some pressure in life is necessary, as a lack of stimulation is likely to leave you bored. Too much pressure, however, may leave you struggling o cope and developing signs of stress. Reaction to stress vary between individuals and the way in which you deal with it can vary according to the time in your life The Effects of ChangeStress is often related to change – rapid changes are the most taxing, as they are hard to control. Slow changes at least give you time to adjust and make preparations but you are at your most vulnerable when several changes occur in a short period of time Anything can trigger stress, but often it’s the daily grind that affects people the most. Timing is a critical factor in how you cope; some women, for example, cope better with stress after a period, when they are feeling more cheerful, than in the week before it, when they are irritable and tense. Flight, Fight or Freeze InstinctsThe flight, fight or freeze reaction to stress is triggered by adrenaline. Without this hormone, you wouldn’t experience stress and would actually be less able to cope with the trials of life. Stress triggers the release of adrenaline from your adrenal glands (above each kidney) into your bloodstream. Red AlertAdrenaline causes your whole body to go into red alert. Your pulse, blood pressure and heart rate increase, supplying more blood to your muscles and brain and less blood to your intestines. Your muscles become tensed and ready for action, and you breathe more deeply preparing your body for combat of escape. At the same time, your body also produces a hormone called noradrenalin, which lowers your blood pressure and gradually helps your body return to normal. The Top 10 Causes of Stress
Bereavement is a devastating experience that changes your whole life and can release a whole host of emotions such as guilt, regret and anger
The breakdown of a relationship can be a time of immense change – moving home, changing your finances, explaining the circumstances to your children, and so on
If you are indisposed due to an accident or long-term illness or after surgery, you may feel emotionally low. Worrying about the diagnosis and treatment and later how you will cope with the recovery period, can be extremely stressful
what should be one of the most exciting days of your life can be one of the most stressful, due to all the planning involved. The wedding day can also feel like an anticlimax after the build-up of the past six months or year.
Losing your job can knock your self-esteem, as well as cause financial and relationship problems
Financial problems are present in most families and are often the key cause of arguments between couples
Caring for others can be very rewarding, but it is also physically and emotionally draining. As a carer you may ignore your needs and feel guilty about time out
Every job has its own pressure, including poor time management, a lack of communication or support, bullying and office politics
Moving house can cause stress and the process of moving can be a constant worry, including finding your home and all the financial implications involved
Family gatherings can be a very trying time, especially if you are not used to being in such close proximity to your relatives. There can be a lot of pressure to meet expectations, and it is common for people to reach boiling point over issues that seem trivial and small Stress Guide - Spotting the causes of StressSpotting the Causes of Stress
Sometimes it can seem that stress is an inevitable part of everyday life, but there are ways to minimise its effects on your health Stress is a symptom of the disruption of your physical, mental, emotional or spiritual well-being. All of us experience stress during our lives. In fact it can often help us to perform beyond our normal capability. Stress is sometimes described as the body’s ‘flight, fright or freeze’ response. When you have a stressful experience, your brain stimulates the production of adrenaline, increasing your heart and breathing rate and readying your muscles for action. The Effects of StressDuring periods of prolonged stress, your hormones and energy levels will become depleted and your immune system weakened. Too much stress can cause depression, panic attacks, mood swings and phobias. There is no formula for a stress free life, but once you acknowledge that you are stressed, you can learn strategies to manage it and work towards a more relaxed lifestyle. The Causes of Stress in Your LifeStress can be caused in every area of your life, from work to relationships In Daily LifeLife is now busier than ever, and when new technology breaks down, it aggravates a stressful situation. Fitting too much into a day leads to disorganisation and stress At WorkSituations at work such as an unmanageable workload, conflict with colleagues or lack of support can make work very unpleasant At HomeYour home is supposed to be a retreat from the stress of the outside world, but sometimes it can cause you even more stress. Relationship problems, moving to a new house, noisy neighbours or even a leaking sink can increase stress levels. Common Stress SymptomsIf you are suffering from some of these physical, mental or emotional symptoms, you are probably stressed Explore Your FeelingsIf you are experiencing more than three of the symptoms in each of the categories below, chances are you are suffering from stress. You may have been ignoring these feelings and conditions and assuming them to be part of every day life, but now is the time to examine them more closely and get to know the root cause Emotional symptomsThe mental and emotional symptoms of stress can be extremely serious and should be dealt with immediately
Physical SymptomsPhysical symptoms of stress can become debilitating and worrying, and you should treat your stress before it incapacitates you
Stress Guide - IntroductionI am often asked about stress and ways of dealing with it.
With this in mind I have put together a comprehensive guide to stress and stress relief...
I will roll out this guide in stages as to bombard you with loads of information in one go can lead to more stress!!!
So initially i'm going to give you my academic view of stress and then follow on from that with a more light-hearted talk about the magic of stress relief
But first the academic thoughts on Stress...
Stress‘Stress’ as a word has expanded from formerly denoting relative force used to cause strain, into being a category widely used within the informal arena of everyday life. As Spradley and Philips (1972) point out, its usage “has been adopted by nearly every discipline which deals with man and his behaviour” (1972:518); indicating multiple interpretations used to apply to a broad domain. Definitions of stress in existing literature range from, a breach in human resilience which leads to the necessary readjustment of an individuals’ behavioural pattern to meet changing environmental, social or internal circumstances (Spradley & Phillips, 1972; Thoits, 1995; Wainwright & Calnun, 2002); to, a psychological or physiologically perceived imbalance between the ability of an individuals’ resources to meet demand, which in turn threatens homeostasis and leads to uncertainty (Brown, 1981; Jacobson, 1986; Sunderland & Cooper, 1990; Olsen, 1993; Thompson & Dey, 1998). Researchers agree however that the stress process is a difficult variable to operationally define due to its many conceptual components which lead to a wide variety of explanatory definitions (Pearlin, 1989; Beehr, 1995; Wainwright & Calnun, 2002). For the purposes of this guide stress is represented as neither good nor bad but as being a necessary aspect of life. When analysed in a mechanical context stress can be viewed through the analogy of necessary force for moving an object; for example a motor vehicle, where ‘revs’ denote the amount of stress and changing gear denotes adjusting to that stress. A certain amount of revs ‘stress’ are necessary to propel the vehicle in a given direction; lack of revs will result in a stationary position with no movement, consistently high revs without changing to a higher gear ‘adjusting to the stress’ will result in parts of the engine burning out as the car exceeds its recommended amount of range, “the right degree of stress is valuable as it energises and stimulates us” (Goodwyn, 1997:80). It is only when the demands surrounding circumstances are perceived as either too low, suggesting under-load, of too high, suggesting over-load, that recurrent strain may lead to problems associated with stress (Chapman, 1969; Cox, 1978; Sutherland & Cooper, 1990; Thoits, 1995; Goodwyn, 1997). In 1974 Lauer analysed recurrent strain by viewing stress as associated to changes and the rate at which they occur in an individuals’ life; he found that “if change is perceived to be desirable, the relationship between rate and anxiety is greatly reduced though not eliminated” (1974:513). The social body and social supportSome research indicates that individuals may not be aware of their situation as stressful until having to readjust their coping strategies. Saying it may not be particular stress inducing situations, but the generalised level of stress existing within the social environment of every day life which causes most strain (Lauer, 1974; Olsen, 1993; Beehr, 1995). These observations echo Durkheims Anomie Theory which “refers to that feeling of isolation which is caused by inability to believe in, or to live up to, the values of society” (Eriksen, 2001:62). Helman (2001) states that in a symbolic sense the individual has an individual and a social body self. The social body enables the individual to acquire the skills necessary for participation within a socio-cultural group, such that the social body “provides each person with a framework for perceiving and interpreting physical and psychological experiences” (2001:14). Here the relationship between the person and environment indicates a continual feedback occurring between the two; Pearlin (1989) also highlights this by identifying that “the multiple sectors of people’s lives are interrelated such that disruptions in one sector are likely to cause disruptions in others” (1989:247). When attempting to integrate into an unknown environment, Berkman et al (2000) highlight Bowlby’s Attachment Theory which identifies the need of the social body to feel safely attached to others while exploring surroundings, thus forming lasting social bonds and attachments. It is the study of social support in cultural context, identified by Jacobson in 1987, which provides “a ‘window’ into the ‘structures of meaning’ that constitute a culture” (1987:58). However, more recently Wainwright & Calnun (2002) continue to feel that accounts of work stress in particular rarely “examines the individuals location in a broader web of social, economic and cultural relations” (2002:81). Social bonds, social integration and group relations are identified as important concepts regarding better understanding of how these relationships affect health and well-being (Turner, 1981; House, 1987; House et al, 1988).
Deleterious effects of stress are thought to be lessened by social support. Social support aids in redressing the balance between needs and resources by altering the consequences of failure to meet demand through the interaction of shared coping behaviours within intimate confiding relationships.
These relationships reduce stress by promoting social solidarity which helps bolster self esteem, giving a sense of certainty and purpose to individual social identity
Bibliography: Spradley J.P. & M. Phillips (Jun 1972) Culture and Stress: A Quantitative Analysis American Anthropologist, New Series, Vol. 74, No. 3, 518-529
Thoits P.A. (Jun., 1982). Conceptual, Methodological, and Theoretical Problems in Studying Social Support as a Buffer against Life Stress. Journal of Health and Social Behaviour, Vol. 23, No. 2, 145-159
Wainwright D. & M. Calnan (2002) Work stress: the making of a modern pandemic. Buckingham: OUP
Brown D.E. (Mar., 1981), General Stress in Anthropological Fieldwork. American Anthropologist, New Series, Vol. 83, No. 1, 74-92
Jacobson D.E. (Sept., 1986) Types and Timing of Social Support Journal of Health and Social Behaviour Vol. 27, no. 3, 250-264
Sutherland V.J. & C.L. Cooper (1990) Understanding Stress: a psychological perspective for health professionals London: Chapman and Hall
Olsen D. (Jul.-Aug., 1993) Work Satisfaction and Stress in the First and Third Year of Academic Appointment Journal of Higher Education, Vol. 64, No. 4, 453-471
Thompson C.J., & E.L. Dey. (May-Jun., 1998) Pushed to the margins: Sources of stress for African American College and University Faculty The Journal of Higher Education Vol.69, No. 3, 324-345
Pearlin L.I. (Sept., 1989) The Sociological Study of Stress Journal of Health and Behaviour Vol. 30, No. 3, 241-256
Beehr T.A. (1995). Psychological Stress in the Workplace. London: Routledge
Goodwyn A. (1997) Developing English Teachers: The Role of mentorship in a Reflective Profession. Buckingham; Philadelphia: OUP
Chapman P.C. (Oct 1969) Stress in Political Theory. Ethics Vol. 80, No.1, 38-49
Cox T. (1978) Stress. London: Macmillan
Lauer R.H. (Jun., 1974) Rate of Change and Stress: A test of the “Future Shock” Thesis. Social Forces, Vol. 52, No. 4, 510-516
Eriksen T.H. (2001). Small Places, Large Issues, an Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology 2nd Edition, London: Stirling
Helman C. (2001) Culture Health and Illness, 4th edition. London: Arnold
Berkman L.F., T. Glass, I. Brissette & T.E.Seeman (2000) From Social Integration to Health: Durkheim in the New Millennium Social Science & Medicine Vol.51, 843-857
Turner R.J. (1981). Social Support as a Contingency in Psychological Well-being. Journal of Health and Social Behaviour Vol. 22, (December):357-367
House J.S. (winter, 1987) Social Support and Social Structure Sociological Forum Vol. 2, No. 1, 135-146
House J.S., D. Umberson & K.R. Landis (1988) Structures and Processes of Social Support Annual Review of Sociology Vol. 14, 293-318
The Magic of Stress Relief
Its hard to avoid stress, but learning how to recognise the causes of tension in your life will help you to manage tasks more effectively
Believe it or not, some stress is goo for you (the car analogy above). It provides you with energy and motivation, improves your performance, so that you are more likely to achieve your goals, and gives you satisfaction when you have achieved them.
Recognising Stress in Your Life
Prolonged stress can have a negative effect on your health, however. It drains you of energy and leads to stress-related symptoms, such as headaches and indigestion. Long term stress can raise your blood pressure, increasing your risk of heart disease and having a stroke, and may affect your immunity.
In this guide, you'll start to recognise stress, spot the warning signs, understand the causes, and learn how to reduce your anxiety levels. We will cover different forms of stress relief, including relaxation techniques and complementary therapies.
The Benefits of Stress Relief
Stress hormones constrict blood vessels, inhibit the production of endorphins, (natural pain killers) and lower immunity. With the lowering of your stress levels, therefore, you may notice some of the following changes, as your body reverts back to its normal healthy state
Your Guide to Stress Relief
One of the keys to reducing stress leels is learning how to manage your time more efficiently and taking firmer control of your life. By better prioritising your time, you will be able to set yourself more realistic goals, freeing up essential time for leisure and relaxation. Ways to achieve this might include setting up helpful routines, for example, tidying up your desk at work at the end of each day, so that you will be more organised for the following morning. Another important part of keeping stress under control is taking regular timeout to relax. You will learn the importance of splitting your time between work and leisure, so that you get the balance right and learn to prioritise and delegate tasks. You will also discover new ways to rest and unwind with complementary therapies and exercise. One way to cope better in stressful situations is to feel more confident and positive about yourself, particularly during conflict with others. Find out how you can be more assertive, allowing you to effectively challenge the demands made upon you by others and deal with difficult situations in a more relaxed manner. This will help you to build on your own strengths and improve on your weaknesses and, hopefully, you won't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. In addition, because you'll be more aware of oher people's needs as well as your own, your professional and personal relationships will run more smoothly Not only do we laugh when we feel good, the reverse is also true - laughing makes us feel good! Laughter causes your body to release endorphins, producing a natural high, boosting your immune systen and combating the effects of stress. What's more, learning to lighten up and see the funny side of things will help you to put your problems into perspective. Before long, you'll start to notice the physical benefits of tackling the stress in your life. You'll feel healthier and more relaxed as you benefit from a better quality of sleep, more energy and even a better sex life. Other benefits you are likely to experience include a stronger immune system, more efficient digestive system and lower blood pressure, reducing your risk of many long term illnesses. You'll also see the psychological benefits of lowering your stress levels, as you'll feel less anxious and more confident By learning how to control the stress in your life and finding ways to relax, you will notice a number of positive changes in your physical and mental health
Psoriasis and Coeliac DiseaseQuestion:
"I was wondering if you could give me some advice on Psoriasis and Coeliac Disease"
Response:
From a holistic perspective both Psorasis and Coeliac disease represent the body turning against itself, resulting in an abnormal action within areas of the body where the usual functional response would maintain homeostasis (balance).
It is true that these diseases are incurable and require maintenance rather than treatment in the conventional sense of overcoming the problem.
The key to this maintenance is establishing what trigger factors there could be and having a continual awareness of them.
For Coeliacs the trigger factors are obviously Gluten intake, however oats can also cause problems and should be monitored as to how sensitive the individual is.
When it comes to Psoriasis the situation becomes much more cloudy. It is true that there may be an inherited factor however by far the most common trigger is stress, closely followed by food intollerance. Close monitoring of when the psoriasis worsens will indicate which stressful situations or food stuffs are best avoided
I have posted information below for both diseases which I hope you find useful.
I have included some very nice Gluten-free recipes for you to try. If these are not to your taste the > Coeliac Charity < Web-site have some outstanding recipes which should keep you filled with ideas for a long time; just click on the link and it will take you directly to the recipe page.
PsoriasisPsoriasis is an extremely common, non-infectious skin disease in which the outer layers of the skin produce new cells too quickly, resulting in raised red patches covered in silvery-grey scales. It is characterised by itching of the scales which flake off to reveal inflamed, red areas. Knees, legs, elbows, forearms or scalp are most frequently affected. There can be a family tendency for the problem and in some cases it can be associated with arthritis. Psoriasis generally first appears in the late teens or 20s and can then become a life-long problem. It tends to come and go and will often disappear completely in the summer in response to plenty of sunshine. Psoriasis can often have an emotional dimension sending out messages of “keep away, do not touch me” which can often be helped by Bach Flower Remedies. Dietary adviceAim to reduce your consumption of meat and animal fats, dairy produce, refines sugars and carbohydrates, coffee and alcohol. Italian research shows that eating lots of carrots, tomatoes, fresh fruits and other foods containing beta-carotene seems to protect against psoriasis. Many studies have shown that fish oil supplements (take as directed) can reduce symptoms. Sufferers are also advised to eat oily fish 2-3 times a week and increase their consumption of a variety of red, yellow and dark green fruits and vegetables. Supplementing with vitamins A, B and zinc may also improve symptoms. Complementary remediesAs each sufferer of psoriasis will differ in their experience of the disease it is advisable to book a Private appointment in order for a full case history to be taken. That way any idiosyncrasies that individualise remedies to patients can be taken into consideration.
However essential oils and herbal helpers can give temporary relief
Coeliac disease affects roughly 1 in 100 people in the UK, making it much more common than previously thought. It is an autoimmune disease triggered by intolerance to gluten – a protein found mainly in wheat, rye and barley.
During the Second World War it was noticed that some sickly children with persistent diarrhoea improved as their diet became more restricted and they were unable to get bread. Eventually, it became clear that the gluten in wheat severely damaged the lining of the gut and reduced the body’s ability to take up nutrients from foods. This intolerance to gluten leads to the inflammation of the lining of the gastrointestinal tract where the body’s immune system reacts by attacking its own tissues.
Coeliac disease is usually a lifelong condition, requiring a strict gluten-free diet. Some people with coeliac disease may not be able to tolerate oats.
If left untreated, coeliac disease can lead to nutrient deficiency related problems, including anaemia, chronic fatigue syndrome, tooth decay, weight loss and osteoporosis.
The most obvious gluten-containing foods are breakfast cereals, bread, pasta, flour, pastry and pizza. More unlikely foods include ice cream, soup and yoghurt.
Hidden sources of gluten can also be found in processed foods. Checking labels carefully is essential, although it is not always fool proof. Compound ingredients, which make up less than 25% of the food (found in products such as tomato paste or mayonnaise), could contain traces of gluten-containing grains that don’t need to be labelled.
The best way to ensure a gluten-free diet is with items that have no ingredients list: i.e. whole foods. Fresh meat, eggs, potatoes and pulses, and fruit and vegetables ensure that everything ingested is gluten-free.
Grains that can be eaten freely on a gluten-free diet include Corn (maize) and rice. But there is a range of more unusual grain products that can also be tolerated by most coeliacs, and make highly nutritious replacements for wheat.
Buckwheat grains can be served as an accompaniment in place of rice or pasta. The flour is traditionally used in French crêpe and Russian blini recipes
Amaranth seeds contain twice as much iron and four times as much calcium as wheat grains. They can be boiled to yield a spicy-tasting cereal accompaniment for vegetables, meat or fish. Amaranth flour makes an unusually moist and sweet pastry
Millet four can be used to make flat breads, and the grains can be added to soups and stews. It makes a delicious and nutritious ‘porridge’
Polenta (corn maize ground to a meal) can be served in place of pasta, or rice or shaped into pieces when cold and fried or grilled
Quinoa is particularly rich in vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids required for healthy skin and hormone production. It needs to be boiled and is excellent with stir-fries and salads.
Giving up gluten does not mean having to give up favourite foods. Try these mouth-watering recipes
Pak choi looks like a cross between cabbage and celery and has a delicious, slightly peppery taste.
You will need?
250g pack rice noodles
3tbsp ground nut oil
1 small red onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
4cm piece fresh root ginger, finely chopped
175g mange tout
2tbsp light soy sauce
2tbsp Thai fish sauce
Juice of 1 lime
150g bean sprouts
1 small head of pak choi or Chinese cabbage
300g cooked tiger prawns, peeled
50g roasted salted peanuts, roughly chopped
Fresh coriander and lime wedges to garnish
Serve these tasty muffins as an alternative to bread or as an afternoon snack
You will need:
1 egg, beaten
175ml buttermilk or plain yoghurt
25g melted butter
150g fine cornmeal
25g potato flour, sieved
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tsp salt
100g spring onions, finely sliced
100g canned sweetcorn, drained
50 parmesan cheese, freshly grated
This cake, served with blueberries, makes a delicious desert
You will need:
3 medium eggs
225g caster sugar
4tbsp sunflower oil
25g melted butter
125g plain yoghurt
Juice and grated zest of 2 large lemons
150g fine cornmeal
75g gluten-free flour, sieved
1 ½ tsp gluten free baking powder
½ tsp salt
Icing sugar and fresh blueberries to serve
Quick tip
Head LiceQuestion:
"My daughter suffers with recurrent head lice, I have used lotions from the chemist but they keep coming back and I don't like to continually use medicated preparations. Is there anything you can suggest?"
Response:
HEAD LICEOf the three types of lice (head lice, body lice and pubic lice), head lice are the most common. They live on the scalp and feed by sucking blood. Their bites cause itching and scratching which can lead to scalp infections and dermatitis. Head lice are tiny and their eggs (nits), which they glue onto the hair shafts, are difficult to see. Lice are spread by head-to-head contact, especially between young school children at school. If overused, organophosphorous compounds in conventional head lice preparations may be toxic to the nervous system. In common with most insects, lice do not like the smell of garlic. If you can persuade your child to eat garlic or take garlic capsules it may help.
HEAD LICE TREATMENTAlthough quite strong the following formula is safe for all school age children. Essential oils kill lice, but not nits, so the treatment must be repeated every few days for a couple of weeks until all the nits have hatched out.
Into: 100ml vegetable oil (sunflower/olive) Put: 15 drops tea tree 15 drops rosemary 15 drops lavender 15 drops geranium
Massage into the hair and scalp, leave for an hour and shampoo out thoroughly. Condition the hair very well to make it slippery, and then remove the lice with a fine toothed comb. Alternatively, buy an electronic comb from a chemist; this electrocutes the lice and damages the eggs. Repeat the treatment every 3 days for a fortnight. This should be enough to cleat the infestation. If your child has lice, it’s a good idea to treat the whole family because of possible cross-infection. As a preventative treatment you could add 5 drops lavender or tea tree oil to 20ml unperfumed shampoo and use this regularly, as lice do not like the smell. UPDATE - New GP PracticeAt last I have received a reply to my emails to Jan about the consultation process... As you can all see it's as clear as mud!!!
They have cleverly avoided saying who is involved in the consultation process, who decides what is to be included for consideration etc... they also sent this reply knowing that the process would be closed by the time I received it!
INFURIATING!!!
I suggest inundating the woman with emails, if you are so inclined, about how beneficial CAM provision would be to our PCT and NHS in support of my initial email... if you can't think of something new to write copy and paste my first email and send that.
EVERY LITTLE HELPS
Here is the letter I received:
Dear Ms Wayt
Thank you for your e-mail requesting further information on the consultation process. I can confirm that the consultation commenced on 5th May 2008 and runs for 13 weeks until 5th August 2008.
Consultation documents have been widely distributed and copies are available on the PCTs website http://www.newgpservices.sotw.nhs.uk.
Views can be fed in via a number of mechanisms: - completion of a questionnaire (available on PCT’s website) - in writing to Emma Cameron: South Tyneside Primary Care Trust Clarendon, Windmill Way, Hebburn, NE31 1AT, email: emma.cameron@sotw.nhs.uk - attendance at one of three public consultation events that have been held throughout July across Gateshead
A report on the outcome of the consultation will be produced which will be made widely available and will be used to inform the final service specification against which providers will be asked to tender.
I hope this answers your queries. Should you require any further info please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely Jan Forster Director of the Policy Unit & Associate Director of Primary Care and Joint Commissioning thrush adviceQuestion:
Can you give me some advice about thrush, I have been suffering for a while and don't like using chemical measures
Response:
THRUSHThree out of four women will suffer an attack of vaginal thrush in their lives. Symptoms are a lot of thick, white vaginal discharge that may look similar to cottage cheese. The discharge may smell ‘yeasty’, like freshly baked bread. Other symptoms include intolerable vaginal itching, a burning sensation during urination and sometimes a rash. Thrush occurs when yeast, candida albicans, which lives in the vagina and the anus, begins to overgrow. This happens when something disturbs the balance in the vagina, which normally keeps the yeast in check. For example being run down can reduce your body’s natural defences, leaving you open to an attack of thrush. Antibiotics prescribed for an infection are another common culprit because they kill the ‘friendly’ bacteria as well as harmful ones. Other prescribed medications, such as steroids and immuno-suppressant drugs, can also weaken the body’s normal defences leaving you more vulnerable to an attack. Self help relief tactics:
Prevention tactics:
Herbal helpersBlack CohoshA common name for this herb is squawroot as it was originally used by Native American women to help with problems in the female reproductive tract. It helps to balance your hormones and has a relaxing effect on your nervous system, so is useful for anxiety. Black cohosh contains the chemical formononetin shown to be a fungicide which brings improvement to the misery of thrush symptoms. GinsengGinseng is a far eastern shrub whose roots have been used in china for more than 4000 years to boost the immune system. Ginseng is a vitality booster. It acts by strengthening the adrenal glands and stimulating the t-cells of the immune system (which help to eliminate toxins). This is a wonderful herb for increasing vitality, but should only be taken for up to three weeks at a time to be most effective. It is a natural source of oestrogens and helps raise your body’s immunity and balance hormones. Ginseng may be taken as dried root, tincture, fluid extract , powder or tablet. Liquorice rootLiquorice root is dried and powdered to prepare a tincture. The herbs general health promoting action is helpful when convalescing from bacterial infections. It helps detoxify the liver and therefore benefits the whole system With antiviral and immunity enhancing effects, liquorice stimulates production of antibodies, balances oestrogen and soothes muscle membranes. It is used as dried or powdered root, or as a tincture or decoction Liquorice enhances the immune system by stimulating the production of interferon (proteins made by cells in response to viral infections), making it a wholesome and highly effective treat which can be made into candy sticks popular with children
Assessment MethodsQuestion:
What Assessment Methods do you use on your co | |||
