Do you suffer from a FEAR OF FLYING that limits your choice of holiday destination?

 Do you dread beach holidays because you’ve really tried, but you just can’t seem to LOSE WEIGHT?

 Do you find the STRESSES OF FAMILY LIFE especially difficult to cope with during the holidays?

 Has your holiday money gone up in smoke?  Is it time for you to STOP SMOKING and get healthy?

For an appointment, or to arrange an informal, no-obligation chat with Margeret Warren, Hypnotherapist, please call 01462 893586.

Please note this is only available in Hertfordshire.

Verrucas are caused by a virus which is found everywhere.   It invades the skin, through rubs and splits, to grow into the painful and unsightly warty growths, known as Verrucas, on our feet.

Prevention from infection is preferable to undertaking any cure, so we advise wearing footware (flip-flops are fine) whenever possible.  Wiping the feet daily with an alcoholic hand gel is also a sensible precaution.

Should you need to eradicate a Verruca we offer a highly effective, non-aggressive treatment suitable for both adults and children.

A scooped heel cup with raised edges in shoes often stimulates a drier skin to develop a callous on the heels which thickens and cracks, causing soreness and even infection.  Diabetic skin is particularly vulnerable when it cracks as healing can take time or lead to further complications.

A dry skin caused by a fungal infection is not resolved by applying a moisturiser – indeed the moisturising cream can make the problem worse.  Such infections can also spread to the nails and other parts of the body such as the scalp and the groin.

Dry cracking heels benefit from reduction and maintainance from a Chiropodist.  Correct diagnosis of an infection allows management and eradication steps to be taken.

Bring your dry, cracked feet to be attended at The Wyndham Centre and you will walk in comfort again!

Many people find that their symptoms can be treated relatively successfully with conventional medicines such as antihistamines and steroids. However, an increasing number of people are feeling uncomfortable about pumping themselves full year after year with these very powerful substances that can have side effects.

Why not try a course of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine is an extremely effective and well established way of treating these diseases.  In China and other parts of Asia, hayfever and other respiratory conditions have been treated using traditional medicine for thousands of years, and is often successful in preventing the onset of these diseases in the future.  We treat the root cause of the problem as well as the symptoms. It is safe, effective, relatively painless, drug free and cost effective.

 Conditions such as rhinitis, hayfever and sinusitis develop as a result of the inhalation of allergens such as pollen, which are particularly prevalent during the Spring and Summer months.  Exposure to these allergens sets of a reaction with IgE antibodies in the nasal epithelium with provokes a massive release of histamine which in turn gives rise to symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, coughing and the formation of phlegm that can block sinuses.   

One option is to try Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. Many summer conditions that effect the respiratory system, are seen in Traditional Chinese Medicine as invasion of ‘wind heat and wind cold’ and if accompanied by weak Lung Qi (or energy,) this will give rise to the misery so many of us suffer from in the summer months. If the immune system is weak due to stress, poor diet, living in unhealthy conditions (inner cities are not exactly healthy in hot dry heat) pollution rates sore as does our vulnerability to external pathogens rise.

Acupuncture is able to help strengthen the immune system, and treat the more unpleasant symptoms of sneezing, headaches, blocked sinuses etc by unblocking the meridians (or channels) that are out of harmony.  A combination of herbs and acupuncture can be very effective in strengthening the lung energy and the general immune system, thus helping to build a resistance to pathogenic factors such as pollen.

Because Traditional Chinese Medicine is holistic we look at all aspect of the patient’s health, medical history, diet, stress levels, mental and emotional health etc. Each treatment is tailored to the individual. Normally a course of six consecutive treatments are necessary, and follow up treatments in the Autumn are often advised. Herbal powders, pills and teas can be taken to enhance the treatment, clear phlegm, and boost the immunity.

 Our Acupuncturist, Jethro Rowland, has been a qualified practitioner of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine since 1991.  If you suffer from hayfever, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma or any respiratory condition in the summer, or indeed any other time of year, Jethro has a great deal of experience in these conditions.  If you would like to talk to Jethro before committing yourself to making an appointment, please call either of the centres.

Well the simple answer is Vitamin D.  Virtually every organ system in your body is dependent on sunshine for optimal performance because it triggers Vitamin D production in your cells.  Vitamin D is an ‘essential’ vitamin which means that your body cannot function properly without it.  Your tissues, cells, organs and bones, and the chemical processes that sustain them, rely upon sunshine.  Vitamin D reduces the risk of the 3 biggest killers of our generation, heart disease, cancer and diabetes.  However, as in so many things the key is ‘moderation’.

According to Dr. Al Sears MD, lecturer and published author from Florida, and Jon Herring, journalist in health, fitness and nutrition, it helps to prevent and treat:

Cancer, especially melanoma

• Autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis
• Lowers the risk of Type 1 and 2 diabetes
• Reduces the risk of heart disease
• Lowers cholesterol, blood pressure and inflammation
• Boosts your immune system
• Increases the strength of your bones and prevents osteoporosis
• Prevents depression and regulates mood
• Important for healthy teeth
• Prevents bone and muscle pain
• Prevents inflammatory bowel disease and other digestive disorders
• Increases fertility and boosts sex hormones in men and women

And those are just some of the things that it can help!

For many years we have been told that skin cancer is caused by the sun.  Why is it then that the rates of skin cancer have increased dramatically in the last 30 years?  Has the sun changed?  No.  There have been studies to show that the people that get the least melanoma are those that spend the most time in the sun!  Office workers have a much higher incidence of melanoma.

For more than 30 years the sun lotion industry has been supporting the view that the sun is deadly and that we must protect ourselves by smothering ourselves with chemical compounds.  These sunscreens contain as many as 5 known carcinogens, 2 of which are activated by the sun!  Anything above an SPF of 8 blocks your vitamin D production by more than 95%!  If you know you are going to be in the sun for a long time and cannot avoid it then use the more natural sunscreens such as Dr Hauschka.

Your body needs sunlight like it needs nutrients.  What it doesn’t need, is sunburn!  Moderation is the key, but remember that sunlight is as natural to your body as breathing!  Like oxygen, if you go without sunlight for long enough your body suffers.  So go and enjoy the sun with care, and stop starving your body of one of the most important vitamin it needs.

One of the most common is tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), a pain on the outside of the elbow, which can radiate down into the forearm. This involves a sprain of the tendons of the forearm where they attach onto the bony ridge on the outside of the elbow. It can cause the local tendon tissue to degenerate and may have an inflammatory reaction.  This can be a stubborn problem resulting in long lasting symptoms, which are resistant to treatment and, it can be brought on by any activity involving gripping, digging, hammering or even carrying a heavy case.

New research suggests that the nerve system can play a major role in this condition and often the pain is referred from the neck and upper back and has associated sensory symptoms such as burning, pins and needles and numbness.  It can be persistent and unpredictable.

 Irritation of this system can be caused by bad postures and unhelpful movement patterns sometimes related to poor ergonomics at work.

Cases of tennis elbow directly related to playing the sport have many possible causes including poor tennis training methods (especially incorrect backhand technique or excess wrist flicking during service), unsuitable rackets (often too heavy), wrong grip sizes (often too small), incorrect string tension and ball weight. Treatment may involve local electrotherapy, massage, acupuncture, stretching, exercising and strapping, which when applied appropriately can reverse the local mechanical degeneration and decrease the inflammatory changes. More importantly, therapists will also assess the patient’s total body posture.

Also, advice will be given to correct bad ergonomics at work and sports specific requirements will be considered. Therefore, don’t wait for it to get better, with appropriate holistic assessment and treatment from our Physiotherapists you will all enjoy a long, hot, pain free summer playing the game you love.

Our Physiotherapists here are trained to treat all types of sports injuries and get them better as quickly as possible.  Don’t forget that treatment shortens the healing process and gets you back to your game as soon as possible.

The summer is a great time to go fast walking in the sunshine and in our lovely countryside, a fantastic way to exercise.

Why do I suggest green vegetables? …. they are alkaline foods and it is important to keep your body in an alkaline state.  No germs can live in an alkaline medium, and your body is constantly trying to keep you alkaline so is using your own buffers, such as your important minerals, to reduce the acidity which in turn weakens your bones and muscles.

According to Dr Mark Rosenburg MD, many health problems today such as disease, fatigue and digestive problems are not necessarily due to growing older but to an imbalance of your acid/alkaline levels, and can be easily fixed by making small changes to the way you eat and the supplements you take.

The foods you eat, the pollutants that you breathe in and many of the cosmetic products you use, all create a very acid body.  This imbalance then leads to a sluggish digestion and circulation, disease and fatigue, and in turn can contribute to ageing.  If you bring your system back into proper pH balance, you’ll notice you look and feel better.

Fruits can be more alkaline and all berries are super foods as they contain Flavenoids that are strong antioxidants and help to remove toxins from the cells.

Avoid processed foods and sugar as they are acid forming and pro inflammatory. Sugar is not just an anti-nutrient but a non-nutrient – there is nothing good in sugar.  All your energy should be coming from your low glycaemic carbohydrates.

You can also help restore balance to your pH with a mineral supplement that contains Calcium Citrate, Magnesium and Potassium.  These three minerals help to alkalize your system.

Power breathing is a great way to oxygenate our bodies, we breathe in through our nose to a count of 4, hold our breath for 20 counts and breathe out through our nose for 10.  Repeat it 3 times.  Repeat the exercise several times a day.

A service that is affordable, client centered, based on harm reduction treatment methods and complementary medicine.

Overall Aim

• To provide a low key, peripatetic service at discreet locations in London and Hertfordshire.

Who The Service Is For

• The client group will be people who have, or are developing, a Cocaine habit, which may include other drugs and alcohol, and who feels they need and may benefit from help treatment and advice. New Leaf provides for those who do not wish to access conventional treatment services such as residential rehabilitation or government supported treatment agencies, or other avenues such as the religious based Cocaine Anonymous.  We also help those with alcohol and other drug related problems, and people affected by stress and other conditions that affect their lives.

Who Are We

• We are a low key service in that we do not accept people with very serious or chaotic addiction, or those with heroin and crack addictions, we feel their need would be better served by more structured agencies and treatment programmes through CDATs etc.

Specific Aims

• To help the client understand the nature and the dangers of their drug use, in a non judgmental and objective way.

• To help the client develop self-help strategies and reflective techniques to help them understand their habit.

• To encourage health promotion, offering acupuncture and stress management techniques, to alleviate cravings and other drug related symptoms.

• To work with other therapists, including mental health teams, counsellors, psychotherapists and other health care professionals.

• To develop an organised network of professionals that can provide appropriate services, as and when required.

• To aim towards an organised network.

• To develop a holistic approach to treatment, with an emphasis on acupuncture and key working, goal setting etc.

• To provide information to clients as to what treatments and services are available, and work with them to decide which may be best suited to their needs.

• To provide an affordable service, that is within the means of average income earners.

• To provide a totally private, discreet and confidential service.