click here for the Natural Health Week website

Be sure to call into the Baptist Church hall in Queens Road, Broadstairs on Saturday 25th March where Jo Scott is running a Festival of Health from 10am till 4pm in aid of a cancer charity.
There will be taster sessions of head massage, reflexology, etc, as well as products for sale and exercise classes upstairs.

We will have a stand there offering information about Omega oils and the Essential Fatty Acids they contain and leaflets about Natural Health Week, as in the above article.
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As from Saturday 11th March, I will no longer be Juliet Seeley, as my partner, Stephen Brazil, and I are getting married at Salmestone Grange Chapel at noon, and will be heading off towards The Eden Project for a honeymoon the following week!
We are leaving the shop in the capable hands of Amanda, Allison, Jane, Alicia and Pam, so you will be well looked after while we are gone!
 

Dr Kathy Sykes (of Bristol University) recently presented a trilogy of TV programmes about Alternative Treatments, which made fascinating viewing. She approached the topics of Spiritual Healing, Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine with the objectivity of a scientist researching her subjects thoroughly and globally. She seemed surprised at how convinced she became at some aspects of these alternative therapies, but remained refreshingly sceptical of that which could not be scientifically proven despite apparent “cures”.

In the programme on Herbal Medicine Dr Kathy Sykes researched herbal uses throughout the world, from ancient traditions to the present fast expansion here in Britain (a fuller description of all this can be found in the information section of the shop.)

Dr Kathy Sykes consulted with other herbalists and professors. They mentioned known herbal uses such as morphine from opium poppies, aspirin from salix or willow and digitalis from foxgloves. She commented that some had not been proven to be effective (although many of us could anecdotally support the effectiveness of these herbs ourselves), such as:

Ginseng for mental alertness and energy levels, Evening primrose for menstrual problems, Echinacea to boost the immune system. She listed some herbs that are well researched and accepted in Britain – such as – St.John’s Wort for depression (in fact in some German trials this proved to be 50% better than conventional medicine, with no known side effects; Black Cohosh for menopause problems; Devil’s claw has an anti-inflammatory effect; Garlic for lowering cholesterol and blood pressure levels; Saw Palmetto for prostate problems; Hawthorn for heart conditions; Horse Chestnut for varicous veins and of course Gingko, the “wonder herb”, which really can improve circulation and the blood supply to the brain and mop up toxic-free radicals which attack the brain cells, thus improving memory loss and even tinnitus, due to its complex components.

The above list of herbs have been rigorously tested and proven effective, and these scientists concluded there may be many other beneficial herbs, but they are yet to be researched. They said that, as with chemical medicines, herbal medicines can be powerful and, as such, they are potentially dangerous, which is why recent legislation and quality control is considered necessary. Dr Kathy Sykes stressed that herbs must be researched and proven effective and safe to be recognised, but she was really impressed by the way herbs can now be analysed and their component chemicals proved to work together to be more effective than single conventional chemical medicines.

She concluded that herbs that have been tested and proved, may well be the safe and effective treatments of the future. Meanwhile pass me the Echinacea please! PHP. MARCH 2006
 

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When starting a new job or project one is all too aware of the reputation left behind by a predecessor which one is bound to be measured against. Andrea Bellamy will be a hard act to follow I have however the advantage that Andrea has made the mould and I shall carry on using it in the style of my articles.

About Reiki What Is It?

I thought that this first article should be about a therapy that is often vaguely heard about but rarely explained. Because the present growth of Reiki is truly amazing. Although it has been around for thousands of years, it is only in the last century it has been named thanks to a Japanese doctor, Mikao Usui, and a small group of dedicated people at the beginning of the 1900’s.

My Story

The best thing I can is to tell you about my experience of it at the receiving end and also as a teacher and practitioner but firstly a bit of background.

It was curiosity that first drew me to Reiki, I had no idea what it was all about but nevertheless was keen to find out for years. Finally I had set about finding a practitioner and booked myself a treatment. I was feeling fine apart from regular headaches, and after four treatments I noticed I had not had a headache in weeks and so it remains after some years I was apprehensive at first but soon began to relax as my therapist explained what would be happening. She firstly explained what it was.

What Does It Mean?

Reiki pronounced Ray-kee is also the term for the energy as well as the process and comes from two Japanese words ‘rei and ki’, universal force energy or cosmic energy, both sum it up. So when you receive a Reiki treatment you get a boost of that vital energy, resulting on healing of the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels.

Reiki, however, isn’t any sort of belief system or religion nor does it clash with anything you presently believe in. Come with an open mind and see what happens.

What Happens In A Reiki Treatment?

Reiki is a hands-on treatment that does not involve any massage of the body or manipulation of the hands and has a relaxing and healing effect. Recent scientific developments make it possible to begin to explain how hands – on healing methods like Reiki have an effect. In simple terms, the energetic qualities of Reiki charged hands have a measurable effect on the areas they treat. The Reiki practitioner lightly places their hands on the client and Reiki flows to where it is needed. It’s as simple as that. It is not the practitioners energy that is felt, they’re acting merely as a conductor, picking up the signals and passing them on to you.

The whole treatment takes about 45 minutes, you keep your clothes on, you lie on the treatment couch, you relax and the therapist puts their hands on key points on your body. You may fall asleep or drift a bit. You may feel warmth or tingling. You may see lights or colours or both. Every person has a different experience.

What Does It Do?

Well I’ve already told you it cleared up my regular headaches The energy affects the individual deeply, treating the root of problems, not just the physical or visible aspects. It enhances life and can be the difference between plodding through the day or really getting some happiness and lightness in what you do.

Reiki can relieve just about any physical or emotional problem. Some examples are: arthritis, anxiety, addictions, asthma, bereavement, high blood pressure, depression, eczema, , low vitality, migraines, Parkinson’s disease, repressed anger/guilt, self esteem, sciatica, sleep disorders, stress and trauma. One pleasant side effect sometimes found after treatment is an increase in creativity. You do not have to be ill to benefit from Reiki, if you feel good you will just feel better!

What Can You Expect Afterwards?

One always feels different. For example, you may feel more relaxed, invigorated, empty, calm, reassured, centred, raring to go, in tune with everyone, more patient, outgoing, it is not consistent. You get what you need; it’s as simple as that. Physical problems should be easier and emotional situations clearer.

What Others Have Experienced

Mary….I felt it a very spiritual thing, the more I use it the stronger it becomes.

Jonathon…..Very powerful feeling, confirms to me there is something beyond oneself.

Rosie……. Makes me feel more whole

Jacolynne…Makes me feel better in general

Jack…Has changed how I perceive things.

What Do Readers Say?

It may well be that readers have experienced Reiki and would like to write to me to tell me what they thought of the experience.
Jane Henry practices Holistic Therapies including Reiki at The New Therapy Centre, Herbs Gardens and Health, St Peters. 07866 – 073806 01843 - 600201

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