camclub articles - January 2015
New CNHC quality mark
Herbs to Help Detox
Reflexology – supporting people living with cancer
A new start to the year and a reminder to all CNHC registrants that the CNHC quality mark has been updated following a rebranding exercise by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care.
The Professional Standards Authority has removed the word ‘voluntary’ from its accreditation scheme so if you are CNHC registered you can now say that you are on CNHC’s Accredited Register and use the revised quality mark which you can see below.
This is available for registrants to download (with the terms of use) by logging into My CNHC.
The Professional Standards Authority has requested that CNHC and all registrants amend any digital images of the quality mark by the end of January 2015 and to use all hard copy materials by the end of November 2015.
We appreciate that practitioners may need to request others to amend websites and that it may not be possible to use up printed materials by the end of November but we do invite you to do what you can to meet these deadlines.
Further information about CNHC’s accreditation can be found on our website under the ‘Home’ menu or by clicking here: CNHC’s Accredited Register
CNHC Facebook page - Job and volunteer roles
Make sure you check CNHC’s Facebook page and website for news updates plus details of job and volunteer roles for CNHC registered practitioners.
You can find CNHC’s Facebook page by clicking on the live link here or through the CNHC website home page.
For further information about the CNHC and how to register, renew or login call 020 7653 1971, email [email protected] or visit www.cnhc.org.uk
By Herbalist and Naturopath Jill R. Davies, for CNM (College of Naturopathic Medicine).
At this time of year, many practitioners are thinking about assisting their clients with cleanses. The significant contribution that can be made by herbs should not be overlooked.
There are many herbs to help detoxify organs and systems and aid eliminatory channels to work more efficiently. The most obvious that springs to mind is perhaps Milk Thistle, a prime choice to help the liver (& kidneys) with its hard work in dealing with modern toxins; from exo-genous oestrogens to pesticides. Detoxing is a complex subject. The removal of deep seated toxins like heavy metals require Burdock, Dandelion, Nettle, Charcoal, Clays and Pectin. Equally you need to ensure that circulation is at maximum functionality, to ensure swift movement of toxins, so herbs like Rosemary, Hawthorn, Ginger, Garlic and Chilli will be vital. You need to be confident that the bowel will function well and swiftly at final removal stage, just like the kidneys. For this, Aloe Vera, Cascara Sagrada, Beetroot, Linseed and other foods and herbals can help the bowel; whilst Parsley leaf, Dandelion leaf, Juniper berries and Corn Silks will help the kidneys.
Wild Burdock Root (Arctium lappa)
Used in both Western and Chinese medicine, Burdock root is a prime detoxifier but it MUST always be used alongside Dandelion leaf (ratio 1 Burdock to 2 or 3 Dandelion parts) to ensure the swift release of the toxins gathered by Burdock. It is good at detoxing all and sundry including heavy metals. Equally it is a ‘herbal anti-biotic’ as it contains ‘polyacetylenes’ making removal of toxic substances more stable and safe be it bacterial or fungal.
Wild Dandelion Root & Leaf (Taraxacum officinale)
Dandelion is one of the most detoxifying herbs and that applies to its root and leaf. The root tends to be used to influence the liver and gallbladder and to gently stimulate bile production whilst the leaf influences kidneys and works as a safe diuretic. The root ensures a plodding and steady elimination of all manner of toxins including those borne out of infections, pollution and hay-fever, the list is endless.
Wild Artichoke Leaf (Cynara scolymus)
If you have ever chewed on a tiny piece of this leaf you will know how bitter it is and how much you salivate, all of which will instigate bile production. Altogether it is a great detoxifer with its ‘cynarin’ not only stimulating the liver but its diuretic action ensuring disposal of gathered toxins via the urinary system.
Wild Nettle Leaf (Urtica dioica)
Often called ‘the cleansing herb’ Nettle leaf contains high levels of flavonoids and a high potassium content which makes it a powerful diuretic. Equally and due to its other biochemical constituents, it is anti-allergenic (amines, histamine etc), so it is a powerful ally when dealing with pollution, hay fever etc.
Wild Rosemary Leaf (Rosmarinus officinale)
It will help those with poor circulation and stagnation where toxins are at danger of sluggishly re-circulating and auto-intoxicating the system. At the same time it pump-primes digestion and its anti-inflammatory qualities aid the always present inflammation when toxins are present.
As a practitioner, you will already know that the detox subject needs plenty of fluid, preferably water to flush, flush and flush again. Remember that the kidneys like warmer weather to work at their best, so if undertaking a specific kidney cleanse, the client should be reminded to keep warm and cosy.
You can get appropriate formulas for your clients from your Herbalist or Herbal supplier. (Or try existing botanicals such as Pollutox from Herbs Hands Healing. It contains Dandelion & Nettle and other detox herbs.)
If you have an interest in empowering your clients with herbs, there are some excellent and inspiring books, especially the Encyclopaedia of Herbs by Andrew Chevallier, Herbalist.
CNM (College of Naturopathic Medicine) offers a Short Course in Herbs for Everyday Living, in London. If you would like to qualify as a Herbalist, find out more about the Diploma Course in Herbal Medicine, taught at CNM London, Manchester and Dublin.
Reflexology – supporting people living with cancer.
Tracey Smith FMAR Association of Reflexologists.
Based on a talk provided at camexpo 2014.
Cancer is a common illness, it has been estimated that more than one in three people will develop some form of cancer in their life time and every two minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with it. Cancer can develop at any age, but is most common in older people as more than a third of cancers are diagnosed in people aged 75 and over. However, on the positive side cancer survival in the UK has doubled in the last 40 years with 50% of adult cancer patients diagnosed in 2010-2011 in England and Wales predicted to survive 10 or more years (Cancer Research UK). This means as therapists we are more and more likely to come across clients who have ongoing cancer, or who are cancer survivors.
What, if anything can we do to help this group? If you read old text books on reflexology you will possibly be surprised to see that reflexology is contraindicated in cancer patients. Why? Varying reasons are provided usually ending with ‘reflexology spreads cancer’ and I am sure that most body workers will have been told the same about their own modality at some point in their career. This is a very old fashioned view of complementary therapies and if there were any hint of this being the case then reflexology would not be the second most used therapy in NHS cancer units after counselling and aromatherapy the third greatest in provision. Nor would Professor Karol Sikora (Professor of Cancer Medicine and honorary Consultant Oncologist at Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London) have stated:
“There is no reason I can see why reflexology should be harmful in any way to a cancer patient. It can only be beneficial in improving the quality of life. I guess the only exception could be the very rare occurrence of a melanoma in the foot but even then other sites (for reflexology) could be used.”
So as we get past the outdated idea that reflexology cannot be used on cancer patients, we as therapists really must understand what it is we are doing and why before we carry out reflexology on an ill and at their most vulnerable, group of clients.
(Availability of complementary and alternative medicine for people with cancer in the British National Health Service: Results of a national survey Bernadette Egan, Heather Gage, Jackie Hood, Karen Poole, Charlotte McDowell, Gail Maguire, Lesley Storey. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice 18 (2012))
Supporting people living with cancer
The title of this article was chosen very carefully because although as reflexologist we may carry out a treatment on our clients we are NOT treating cancer, we are treating people. In fact to claim to treat cancer is against the Law under the Cancer Act of 1939. We support them through possibly their most difficult times of their lives; through the diagnosis, the treatment, the survivorship and also potentially to end of life care. We offer support without the complexity of family or friend relationships. And of course we offer this support in a totally non-judgemental way, even if their choices do not match with ours.
If you look up the word support in a dictionary the following can be found:
- Keep from falling
- Bear the weight of
- Strengthen
- Supply with necessaries
- To help, encourage, endure, tolerate
All of which could be applied to reflexology or indeed most other complementary therapies. To play our part correctly though we need to really understand what the client is going through and to match the application of reflexology to the client’s needs. This is where the individuation of treatment comes to the fore which must be based on a clear understanding of the biology beneath.
So what is cancer?
Cancer is thought to be primarily thought to be a Western disease or a ‘disease of affluence’. However, even poorer countries such as Mongolia have high levels mainly due to the prevalence of Hepatitis C leading to liver cancer. Cancer is largely on the increase due to longevity and the prevention of other diseases in earlier life. But of course there is the argument that the increase in levels of chemicals in the environment and diet also has a role to play.
Put simply, cancer is diagnosed when any of the 200 different tissues in the body lose the ability of the cells to commit self-suicide (apoptosis) becoming constantly dividing cells and resulting in the growth of a tumour. If these cells also gain the ability to invade other tissues they becomes malignant or cancerous. The mass of a tumour itself can cause problems by pressing on other tissues including nerves, which then causes obstruction and /or pain. The cells may also spread and invade other tissues (metastasize). This over growth of one type of cells uses up; nutrients - so weight loss and even malnutrition can occur; and energy - resulting in extreme fatigue. There are also situations where this process does not necessarily result in a mass, for example the proliferation of any of the specific blood cells results in a slowed down and dysfunctional circulation or immune system, but no tumour.
The cancer journey
This starts from the vague feelings that ‘something is not right’ which grows over a short or a long period of time into a need for diagnosis. Throughout this stage there will be uncertainty, denial and fear coupled with the physical problems that result in a visit to the GP. If cancer is suspected, this will result in a rapid referral to the hospital which increases the stress and anxiety. After diagnosis comes staging, which defines the size and aggressiveness of the cancer and whether it has spread. Prognosis or the likely outcome may also be discussed. The recommendation of the medical treatment protocol follows which can be very frightening, not least because all side effects have to be made clear. This all gives the cancer a personality of its own which may well increase the fear of it and the fear for the future. After this comes the tumultuous rounds of surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and support drugs often leaving behind an ill and exhausted shell of a person who may or may not have cancer. If they have succeeded in the goal to rid the body of the cancer then that person has to rebuild both mentally, emotionally and physically. They may also have to re-establish their place in their family, in their relationship and in society. If however, the battle was not won what lies ahead is an end of life journey with all the emotions that this entails. If 50% of adults with cancer are predicted to reach 10 or more years of survivorship this still means that 50% will not, so one in two cancer patients may require end of life care.
Reflexology as a support therapy
Throughout this whole journey, it can be seen that there is a need for both physical and emotional support and this is where reflexology can help. However, it is important that the medical treatment protocol is understood and reflexology is provided in an individualised way, when the client is best capable of coping with any potential healing effects.
The reflexologist must be aware that they need knowledge, understanding and often further training in this field. There is a particularly excellent training course at the complementary therapies unit at the Christie Hospital, Manchester. It also helps to be experienced but it is also worth remembering that every therapist had to take their first step into care in this field at some point.
There may also be the issue of insurance. It is always worthwhile checking your insurance company’s stance on supporting people living with cancer, some companies may be fine, some may expect you to have completed further training, some may not insure you to do so at all. It will depend on the company but it is always best to check.
One final point, before taking any person living with cancer on as a client, remember that they may still want treatment at the end of life. Make sure that if this were required that you would be capable emotionally of doing this right from the start, because it would be absolutely unethical to withdraw your support just when they need it most.
Reflexology research in cancer care
There have been more research projects into reflexology and cancer care than in any other area. This is undoubtedly due to reflexology being present in many cancer units and therefore being evaluated on one level or another. The main areas that have been highlighted by research are:
- The increased ability to cope with side effects such as appetite, breathing, constipation and diarrhoea, pain, nausea, sleep, communication, fears of the future and tiredness.
- Pain relief
- Reduction of stress and anxiety.
- Relaxation
- The calming effect
- ‘Time out’ from their illness.
- Overall quality of life
These elements of what reflexology may provide comes from several small studies published in scientific journals. Taken together it is easy to see why reflexology is gaining a reputation as a support therapy in cancer care. To quote a research paper: ‘Patients appear to perceive complementary therapies as enhancing compassionate care and providing comfort during an extremely difficult clinical experience.’
Effects of complementary therapies in cancer care. Briscoe J, Browne N (2013) Nursing Times; 109: 41, 18-20
