Welcome to the Orchard Clinic Autumn newsletter 2011

 Come and sample hands-on treatment – for free!
 Have one-to-one chats with our practitioners
 Hear talks on herbal medicine and homeopathy
 Ask questions…

Find out how treatments and therapies at the orchard clinic can support good health and wellbeing

OFFER TO ALL PATIENTS
‘Recommend a friend’
& they will receive £10 off their first treatment and you will also receive £10 off your next treatment (except chiropody).

PLEASE NOTE THIS OFFER IS ONLY AVAILABLE UNTIL 31st January 2012

Open Day Programme

Thursday 20th October 6-9 & Saturday 22nd October 2-6pm

On both Days we will have:

 Hands on Taster Sessions:
15 minute taster sessions in *Aromatherapy * Shiatsu * Massage * Reflexology

 One to one chats with practitioners:
*Osteopathy *Chiropody *Nutrition *Acupuncture * Coaching/NLP

 Plus a Programme of Talks and Groups sessions

Thursday 20th October – Talks Programme

6.15pm Get Healthy with Herbs
7.00pm Homeopathy – the Basics
7.45pm Herbal Medicine – healthy with herbs
8.30pm Arnica and its many uses – homeopathy

Saturday 22nd October – Talks Programme

2.15pm Get Healthy with Herbs
3.00pm Homeopathy - the Basics
3.45pm Get Healthy with Herbs
4.30pm Arnica and its many uses

Group sessions in Alexander Technique and Yoga therapy

Arnica as a homeopathic remedy and its latest use
Arnica has been known to soothe inflammation, lessen bruising and dilate the blood vessels. Applied to the skin, it promotes healing of damaged tissues and speeds up the repair mechanism, although it should not be applied to broken skin.
Not surprisingly, Arnica is a great sports remedy, widely used for soft tissue injuries and muscular pain by sports injury specialists, physiotherapists and massage therapists.
It is only recommended for topical application if the skin is unbroken as it can sometimes irritate open wounds.
In this recent article is the latest way that the homeopathic remedy Arnica is being used which I thought you might find interesting.
If you would like further information about how homeopathy can help you, call me Theresa Hughes 01923 286727 or the Orchard Clinic 01494 726228 to have a FREE 15 minute consultation
Homeopathic remedy hits the fashion runway
Thursday, 15 September 2011
At this year's New York Fashion Week, models and fashionistas may be relying a new beauty accessory to trim down and brighten skin: a homeopathic supplement called arnica montana.
On Thursday, The New York Times reported on the new trend: undergoing an oral regimen of arnica supplements to reportedly reduce puffiness and clear up complexions. "I heard of models and other designers taking arnica before big events or photo shoots, so I thought I'd try it out," said New York-based fashion designer Phillip Lim in the article. "I did feel like my skin glowed afterwards." Arnica, made from a flower, comes in many forms: gels, creams, tinctures and pills. Before its adoption by the fashion crowd as a beauty aid, it's traditionally been used to combat muscle soreness and bruises and reduce inflammation. Many professional athletes use Traumeel or Weleda ointments, arnica-based rubs. But arnica advocates tout mostly unsupported claims that it cures a variety of ailments, from hair loss to vertigo. However if taken internally, noted The New York Times, some arnica formulations must be diluted with water and aren't recommended for long-term use. Arnica also contains a toxin called helenalin which can stress the gastrointestinal system and kidneys, and can be poisonous if consumed in large quantities. Although some arnica homeopathic pellets contain only negligible amounts of arnica, so it's best to talk with your doctor or homeopath before trying an oral regimen for beautification.
If you want to reduce blemishes and puffiness, there are many topical products available for the arnica-curious set. One such treatment is Nelsons Pure and Clear Acne Gel, which lists arnica as one of four active ingredients. The New York Times also cites a claim by model Gisele Bündchen that the gel gently clears up blemishes.

A “slipped” disc describes a spinal condition where an intervertebral disc (which contains a gel type substance) begins to split, sometimes after relatively minor movement. This allows gel to escape and causes irritation and inflammation to the surrounding tissue and aching pain or sometimes burning, “electric shock” pain which may travel along a spinal nerve.
Recovery from a slipped disc takes time and surgery is only helpful in a minority of cases. Usually, medical advice is to get back to normal movement as soon as this is possible. Osteopathy can be helpful with a large number of cases and should be considered before surgery. The inflammation reduces as the body removes the escaped gel over several months but the gel in the intervertebral disc is not reformed by the body so the disc will always be thinner than before and more susceptible to compression and wear and tear over time. Because of this it is important to reduce disc compression as much as possible and to develop strength in the muscles supporting the spine.
Working with Yoga postures, carefully chosen to strengthen the back and abdomen in a safe way, will strengthen the muscles around the spine and provide good spinal support. Yoga can also help with optimising your general posture -learning how to sit and stand in a way as to lengthen the spine and how to lengthen the spine before moving it. Gentle Yoga postures together with breathing practices and relaxation help to reduce muscle spasm and ease the mind.
After recovering from a “slipped” disc, Yoga practice is an excellent way of maintaining the spine in a healthy state and helping to reduce the chance of future “wear and tear” conditions developing.
If you are interested in how Yoga Therapy might help you, please contact Barbara via The Orchard Clinic, email barbaradancer@gmail.com or meet her at the Orchard Clinic Open Evening.

Aromatherapy works in three ways. As scents are inhaled, the smell travels across the olfactory nerves located inside the nose and then up into the part of the brain that controls our moods, our memories and our ability to learn. This area is called the Limbic System and when stimulated it releases endorphins, neurotransmitters and other 'feel-good' chemicals.
The essential oils have a subtle way of effecting your mind and emotions, as well as having antibacterial properties.
Also the essential oils are absorbed into the skin and blood stream. They help stimulate the various systems of the body to bring equilibrium. They can uplift your mood or relax it. Some oils can have a direct effect used topically such as to relieve a sore muscle, bruise or even burns. Certain oils give better texture and appearance of the complexion.
The massage, included with the oils, completes the treatment, whilst working on the lymphatic system and tight muscles. Massage is primarily focused on the back and around the spine. Legs are drained upwards moving the lymph.
Even the feet are worked on with some reflexology. Pressure points on the face and scalp are also included, using frankincense for the scalp and a special face oil using peach/rose which is nourishing.
Rose oil helps to reduce wrinkles as it can mildly contract the muscles of the face. This helps tone and tighten sagging skin.
Aromatherapy works on the mind, the body and the spirit.

David Crosser

We are nearly into the full splendour of autumn with its wonderful colours and bountiful harvest of fruits, nuts and berries. At the present time our hedgerows are full of hawthorn bushes abundantly supplied with beautiful deep red berries or haws. 'Haw' is an old English word meaning hedge and although hawthorn can grow as a tree up to 25 feet it is very commonly grown as a hedge, and in previous times was seen as a symbol of fertility and planted around animal pastures. It was a sacred tree of the Druids and is believed to have protective powers. Its common name is May Tree and on May Day the white hawthorn blossoms were used to decorate the maypole.
Whilst the berries can be used to make syrups, wines, jams and sauces, herbalists value them as a very useful medicine for supporting the heart and circulation. Not only the berries, but also the flowers and leaves are used medicinally, usually in the form of teas or tinctures for treating a wide range of problems associated with the circulatory system.

Research shows both flavonoids and oligomeric procyanidins (OPCs) (which give the red/blue colour to many fruits and berries) are among the many active constituents in hawthorn, and suggests hawthorn has anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. Its cardiovascular effects include relaxation and dilation of the coronary and peripheral arteries, thus improving the flow of blood to the heart and in Western herbal medicine traditional therapeutic uses for hawthorn include angina, mild cardiac failure, high blood pressure and prevention of arterial degeneration.
Medical herbalists would generally use hawthorn alongside other herbs to support the circulatory system and make up a prescription taking into account all aspects of a patient's health.
For example where stress was believed to be an issue, herbs for the nervous system would also be indicated. Hawthorn can be taken alongside many orthodox medicines, but is not compatible with all heart medicines so it is advisable to always seek advice from a medical herbalist.

Ref: Loew D; Wien Med Wochenschr 149:226-228, 1999. Mills & Bone 'The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety', Holubarsch CJ, Colucci WS, Meinertz T, et al Eur J Heart Fail 2:431-437, 2000/British Herbal Medicine Association's Scientific committee: British herbal pharmacopoeia, Bournemouth, 1983, BHMA, PP 74-75. Thomson EB et al J. Pharm Sci. 63 1936-37, 1974/Petkov V. Am J.Clin.Med 7, 197-236, 1979/Nasa Y et al. Arzneimittel-Forsch 43, 945-949, 1993. Ammon HPT and Handel M. Planta Medica 43, 105-120, 1981, 43, 209-239, 43(4) 313-322, 1981

We are pleased to welcome a new coach and therapist to the Orchard Clinic-John Lingley.

He is passionate about health and well-being and supporting people to live happier more fulfilled lives through behavioural change. This is achieved by 1:1 personal coaching and therapy sessions which include Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) , Hypnotherapy and Mindfulness and Meditation techniques.

John is a Master Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Hypnotherapy. He also has been trained in Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Skills.

Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy has proven to be very effective in preventing relapse in people that have been suffering from depression. It is also effective in helping people overcome stress and anxiety.

Also there is empirical evidence to the many benefits of Meditation including stress relief, improved concentration, better management of troublesome thoughts, increased energy levels, reduced insomnia and improved learning ability and memory.

The aim of the coaching and therapy programmes are to restore wholeness through complete wellbeing: physical energy, mental energy, and emotional calm.

The range of conditions that he offers support in include: stress, depression, anxiety, self-confidence, self-esteem, self-value, work/life balance, fear, smoking cessation, phobias, insomnia and weight loss.

For more information please contact the Orchard Clinic: 01494-726228