Could the shirt on your back be harming you?

You've heard the phrase, "You are what you eat", I'm sure, but have you ever considered this: "You are what you wear"?  Apart from vegetarians who avoid leather on ethical reasons, what else should we be conscious of.

You may be aware that more and more synthetic chemicals are creating an allergy epidemic, we are less savvy when it comes to our clothing.  Since the 70's chemical finishes have been applied to our clothing.  This is happening more and more, and some of the substances being used include carcinogenic toxins and have been found in clothing as well as bedding.  The toxins rub against our skin and can be absorbed by our bodies, negatively effecting our health and wellbeing.  One of the most commonly used chemicals is formaldehyde, a well known human carcinogen.  Formaldehyde is presented on shelves as "easy care", "non-iron"or "stain resistant".  It is also used to flame proof children's nightwear.  It doesn't come out through washing. 
Other toxic additions to our clothes include PPD, trichloroethyne, brominated flame retardants and perfluorinated chemicals.  Triclosan, if overused, can lead to resistance to antibiotics.  In addition, sufferers of eczema or similar skin conditions, may find their condition is worsened by wearing certain items of clothing without them realising their clothes have these toxic finishes to them.

Some school uniforms contain teflon and other chemical finishes as standard along with solvents within the collars.  Other clothing descriptions to be aware of include "water repellent", "anti-static", "antibacterial" or "antimicrobial".  We all have to wear clothes in our lives (well I know I do unless you are a closet naturist on the side) and it can be difficult to research what is hidden in what we are wanting to buy.  If you are seriously concerned by what is coating what you place on your skin, try swapping to 100% organic cotton, especially if you do have a chronic skin complaint.  A friend shops at eczema clothing for both herself and children and swears by them.  Click the logo below to be taken to their site



Til next week, good health to you!

Take the tram

Could a curry help cure cancer?

With it being cancer awareness month, now seemed to be a good time to bring this up, namely the promising evidence that a simple ingredient many of us have in our cupboards, especially if you love curries, is proving to be an effective tool in treating certain cancers.  The ingredient?  Turmeric

Turmeric is a part of the ginger family and is grown widely in Southern Asia.  It is turmeric's active ingredient, Curcumin, that is causing such excitement.  Used over 1000's of years in Ayurvedic medicine, the modern medical community are cottoning on to the benefits of this golden powder.

Studies have shown that curcumin;
1/ inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria in the stomach that can lead to stomach cancers and ulcers

2/ is an anti-inflammatory.  Inflammation can be a precursor for some cancers

3/ it boosts cellular antioxidants, allowing our cells to operate at optimum levels and reduce stress

4/ it protects the liver by helping it switch off damaging proteins, leading experts to think it would be useful in patients receiving chemo treatments that can be damaging to livers

5/ it may suppress the start of some tumours or stop them as it acts on the signalling system of certain genes that activate cancer formation.

Research continues.  Spiced green tea with added curcumin has been shown to be a double whammy in treating cancerous cells. Studies have shown that the spice can kill entirely some cancer cells.  Research has shown that a constant presence of curcumin in the body is vital in maintaining it's effectiveness.  But it isn't a simple matter of having a curry everyday, as there is insufficient curcumin in an average curry.  Between 3-8 grams of curcumin a day has been shown to be an effective amount to reap the benefits.  Supplements are available on the market, Solgar, I know do a good one.  Research has also shown that using turmeric with black pepper seems to increase it's absorption.

There is a huge excitement over the use and potential advances in cancer treatment that curcumin could bring.  We will have to wait and see what the medical community decides.  

My early morning, under the duvet workout

Good Morning, did you enjoy the weekend weather?  Did you go to Goose Fair?  Although I enjoyed the sun, I was, for the most part, working most of it but it was nice not to have to dodge showers as I did so.

I don't know about you, but the last few weeks, with the darker mornings, getting up and out of bed has really taken an effort and the motivation to do anything takes some finding.  To try and perk myself up, I've begun to perform some under the covers exercise and stretching (no making up your own jokes here, thank you)to rid myself of any post sleepy stiffness.

Firstly, I lie back on the bed and stretch my legs and feet as far as I can to the foot of the bed as well as stretching my arms and hands far into the air, and just hold it and sink into it, feels really good.

Then I sit up, and with my hands on my shoulders, perform shoulder rolls forward and back.  Then try stretching your arm across your chest, repeating both sides, to really loosen up those shoulders.  Warm up your ankles by wiggling your feet about, scrunching and unscrunching your toes, that sort of thing.

Sitting up in bed, straight back, slowly bring yourself forwards, bone by bone towards your legs until you feel a stretch in the back of your legs, hold a few seconds, then slowly return to sitting.  Tilt your head from side to side,slowly, rotate the head, don't be alarmed if you hear lots of creaks and cracks, as your bones and muscles start to come to life again.  These are just an example of things you can do, whilst still in the womb that is your duvet, to prepare your body for what lies ahead, and they need only take a few minutes to complete.

For any enquiries;
Email synergy_therapies@icloud.com

The healthier pink salt

Have you noticed how over the last few years the popularity of Himalayan Rock Salt has increased? I for one was totally oblivious to it's existence up until then.  So let's learn a bit more about it;

Hundreds of millions of years ago, crystallised sea salt beds from an ancient sea were covered in lava and protected from any form of pollution or degradation.  Over millions of years, this sea bed was raised high into the sky through plate tectonics forming the mountain range of the Himalaya we know today.  This pink salt was discovered buried deep in the mountains and is considered to be the purest form of salt on the planet.  The unique colouring of the salt is due to it's rich mineral and energy rich iron content.


What are the benefits of the salt?  Since it was formed from a natural process, like the nutrients in fruit and veg, the nutrients in pink salt work  in tandem with, and, complement each other.

Natural salts are rich in iodine (essential for thyroid health) meaning artificial additives are not required.

The salt grains are larger than refined salt grains, meaning the components are less compressed which results in there being less sodium per serving compared with the refined variety.

Pink salt is packed with 80+ minerals & elements, and include sulphate, magnesium, calcium, potassium, bicarbonate, bromide, borate, strontium & fluoride

Because of these minerals, Himalayan pink salt can create a balance of the electrolytes in the body, increase hydration, regulate water content both within and outside the cells of the body.  In addition it rebalances the ph of the body between acid and alkaline and can help with acid reflux.  The salt prevents muscle cramping, aids the metabolism, strengthens bones, lowers blood pressure, helps the intestines absorb nutrients, improves circulation and helps the body remove toxins.

So what is wrong with traditional table salt in comparison?  First off it is stripped of all its minerals, is chemically cleaned, bleached and heated to an unnecessary  high temperature.  Also it is treated with an anti-caking agent which prevents it from dissolving in our bodies, instead leading to a build up within our organs and tissues causing potential health issues.  Finally the iodine that is added to table salt is usually synthetic which can be difficult for the body to process.

As well as using Himalayan Salt in food and drinks, it can be used in the bath to soothe tired muscles, pink salt rocks are retailed as decorative ornaments for candles and lamps, the latter being a great air purification method.

For any questions, enquiries;
Email synergy_therapies@icloud.com

Is your breathing giving you a stiff neck?

Morning,
How are you now that we are "officially" into Autumn? Ok, who, after last weeks edition, went to The Range to see if the Xmas decs were out?  I can confirm that someone did and guess what?  Our fears were confirmed and Christmas had already begun on Bank Holiday Monday!!  So depending how you feel about the whole festive thing, The Range may be a place to avoid until after Halloween at the earliest.

On Saturday I attended The Big One Fitness day at The English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.  A wonderful day spent doing various exercise sessions & lectures.  One session was dedicated to Wellbeing and looking at treating the body "wholistically".  Wellbeing was defined as "A state in which a human being functions at an optimal level of integration between the elements of body, mind & spirit.  The well individual is one who is happy,healthy, and whole and who perceives his/her life as one with meaning and purpose".

We then went through how the body becomes imbalanced and the effects on the body each phase produces.  One thing that came up was the importance of breathing correctly and here is what was like an "Eureka" moment.

Hands up if you suffer with a stiff neck?  Even after a (hopefully one of mine) massages, do you sometimes still think there is tension in the neck area?  Maybe we have to start looking at your breathing, learning to use your diaphragm because, believe it or not, we use the muscles of our neck to breathe.  If we breathe incorrectly,take shallow breaths, not enough oxygen enters the body.  To enable our bodies to perform everyday tasks, our neck muscles become overworked and stressed attempting to get sufficient oxygen into the body.

In a cruel twist of fate, our neck muscles are linked to the sympathetic nervous system (that which operates without any human interference) so when they are overworked, this system releases stress hormones (the fight or flight response), so we begin feeling stressed, agitated, panicky etc which aggravates the condition and so things start to spiral out of control.  By learning to breath correctly can result in an array of health benefits.

The next image will give you an idea on how and where we should breathe,in through the nose, out from the mouth.

The next time you come for treatment and your neck is stiff, let's look at your breathing

Til next week, take care

MB

Can you hear me Mother?

CAN YOU HEAR ME, MOTHER?

I had this phrase repeated to me many times yesterday afternoon during a mass hopi ear candleathon.  One of my in-laws is pretty deaf; part old age, part build up of wax and he finds that a hopi treatment periodically helps him hear a bit better as a large amount of wax is removed.  Of course, being of a certain age he fondly remembers the entertainer Sandy Powell and his catch phrase, "Can you hear me, Mother?"

Of course then, the rest of the family decide to join in having a Hopi treatment themselves, ending it with the catchphrase.  So whilst the rest of Nottingham enjoyed the glorious weather (and maybe the Riverside festival as I did on Saturday) I was wrist deep in good old ear wax!

So what types of conditions would benefit from a Hopi treatment?

  
A build up of or excessive earwax can benefit from the treatment and feels less invasive than syringing.  Hopi can help with conditions such as tinnitis and sinusitis, soothing the passages inside the ear, rebalancing ear pressure.  Some people suffering with poor sleep have said that they sleep better afterwards as the treatment itself is very calming & relaxing.  In the past I have also treated clients who have an imbalance of pressure within the ear following a plane trip and they have found that Hopi helps.  In a similar way too, I've had clients who, after swimming, cannot rid themselves of that "sloshing around" feeling in their ears from trapped water, have found Hopi beneficial.

So that's a brief lowdown on what Hopi is.  Many people have heard of it but are not quite sure what it entails.  Try it yourself the next time your ears are blocked or are not feeling 100%