camclub articles - September 2015

World Reflexology Week and Healthy Ageing
Writing the book you know is in you
An Essential Clinical Consideration in Idiopathic Male Infertility and Unexplained Pregnancy Losses
CNHC update

World Reflexology Week and Healthy Ageing

The week of camexpo this year just happens to coincide with World Reflexology Week (WRW) which is always the third week in September every year. WRW is where reflexologists all over the world plan events to promote greater global awareness of what reflexology is and the benefits it might provide.

This year at the Association of Reflexologists we decided that our focus would be on healthy ageing.

According to Age UK there are now more people in the UK that are over 60 than there are under 18 and the number of people over 60 is expected to pass the 20 million mark by 2030. The number of people aged 100 or older has increased by 73% in the last decade and has now reached over 13,000 and it is expected that one in five of the current population will achieve their one hundredth birthday. Statistics like this mean that as therapists we are more likely to be asked to provide treatments to an ageing client base. To do this we need to understand the issues that come from ageing, how we age and the problems that may occur as we age and how we can move forward to treat this much deserving client base with support, care and compassion.

So what is health?

“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.” Mahatma Gandhi

Physical wellness

For physical health the body requires that all the structural elements of a person are working as well as possible. All the bones and muscles are strong and flexible with the ability to withstand tension and pressure. To achieve this they require to be used because without use muscles decline and weaken which is why regular exercise is important. Strong healthy muscles also allow for efficient proprioception, the ability to know where parts of the body are in relative position to the rest of it. Proprioception is very important when it comes to moving, walking in particular, but a lack of proprioception can also be involved in people having falls. The organs also need to be functioning at an optimal level. This then brings into the equation the requirement for the correct balance of nutrients; sufficient proteins for tissue repair, carbohydrate for instant energy and fat for warmth and slower release energy. Other molecules are required for example enzymes, co-factors, hormones and chemical messengers. Most of these originate from the food we eat, the fuel that is taken in feeds the requirements of the rest of the physical body. If certain nutrients are lacking, then this can have an effect on health sooner or later. Hydration is also important as lack of fluid can cause build-ups of unwanted waste products in the body. The body should also be kept free of toxic chemicals as far as possible, which is easier said than done in these days of medication, industrialisation, food packaging and chemicals in the water. Rest and sleep is also important for wellness, a lack of sleep or insufficient rest can have great effect on the functioning of the body.

Mental Wellness The state of our mental health affects how we feel in our life, our ability to bounce back (resilience), taking a useful position in the community and workplace, realising our full potential (self-actualisation) and coping with stress. This arises from a complex mixture of biology (including chemistry in the brain), inheritance (through genes and family history) and life events. Our level of mental health or wellness can affect all aspects of our lives, home, work, school and social life. It affects our relationships, our sleep, our attitudes, our abilities to make decisions and even our physical health.

Ageing and health

As our body ages millions of tiny mistakes are made in our DNA every day, luckily we also have DNA damage repair systems that can repair some of these mistakes completely. But the DNA repair processes also age and become less effective and so thousands of mistakes gradually build up resulting in functional changes in our body. Our hair goes grey, our skin loses its bloom but also our bones start to lose density. Muscles loose suppleness, cartilage stiffens, neurotransmitters are less available all resulting in reduced mobility and flexibility. Our immune system starts to become less sensitive on one hand, with less ability to fight infection and yet conversely more sensitive, resulting in a low grade of inflammatory reaction throughout the body which is thought to be a cause of many of the damaging illnesses of old age. Our senses of hearing and sight decline which can result in growing isolation just at a time when retirement looms and our position in society changes.

So how can reflexology help with all of this gradual yet eventually overwhelming physiological change? There have been a few small research studies into reflexology that suggests it can help with physical issues such as pain, balance, muscle flexibility and sleep patterns all of which may help this group to maintain their own wellbeing. However, as therapists we provide therapeutic touch and emotional support, this might not seem to be much against the onslaught of ageing but touch is vitally important to life, potentially as important as good nutrition as there has been research that indicates that without touch babies fail to thrive independent of sufficient calorie intake. And loneliness has been shown to be as bad for the health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. So what reflexology and all touch therapies provide is a level of human contact and emotional support that may be difficult to gain elsewhere. Reflexology differs slightly from other touch therapies due to it being skin to skin touch but without the embarrassment of undressing and the fact that talking can and often does take place during a treatment. Some of the most important emotional release based communication can often arise from within the session. This lack of undressing, application of therapeutic touch and the level of societal support given during a reflexology treatment makes it eminently suitable to the older population who may be new to touch therapies.

Tracey Smith HMAR BSc

Tracey will be giving a workshop on reflexology and healthy ageing at camexpo on Saturday 26^th September at 10.30am.

Writing the book you know is in you

Best-selling author Janey Lee Grace shares her top tips on how to get started

They do say we all have a book inside us just waiting to get out, is there one inside you and are you purposely keeping it in? As the author of five books and a coach for others who want to write books I’d strongly suggest you ask that inner voice if your book would like to be birthed? The common mistakes people make are assuming that their book needs to be the ultimate book. People with a message to share or a great story rarely think along the lines of getting their first book out there, they tend to assume it must be the equivalent of War and Peace and so the sheer enormity of the task is overwhelming. I’d suggest you focus on one aspect of your message and start there, in fact writing a non-fiction book can be the best calling card you will ever have for your holistic business, let’s face it once you add three letters to the word author – suddenly you are an authority.

Here’s a five step guide to writing your first book:

1. Decide on your USP, this can be the stumbling block for many people, especially therapists, they have a recurring sense of intuition that they should write a book, perhaps clients, friends or colleagues constantly tell them that others would love to hear their message, yet they feel fearful because they start counting the thousands of books already out there which cover their topic and then think - why bother? It’s true, very little is new under the sun, and if you are a therapist for example who specialises in aromatherapy or a raw food chef who is brilliant at desserts, there will indeed be thousands of books on similar topics. But there’s only one YOU, and you will have your unique take on the best blends of essential oils or the most unique ingredients for satisfying desserts, if you genuinely are authentic and passionate about your thing – then the chances are others will be interested in reading your words.

2. Don’t procrastinate about getting started. You don’t have to get it right, you just have to get it going! Don’t be held back by thinking you aren’t a good enough writer either, if you have a message and you could speak about it to someone, chances are you can write it, if for whatever reason you really aren’t up to speed, then record into a device, lets someone transcribe and if necessary use a good editor.

3. Preparation is key, plan in advance what kind of length the book will be (and remember its ok to start with a 25 page e-book!) Brainstorm your suggested title, the three main points you really want to get across in the book and a draft chapter list. Divide the estimated word count by the estimated chapters and then work out how long it usually takes you to write, be realistic and schedule your writing time accordingly.

4. Ask yourself who is your target audience for the book, imagine someone walking into a bookshop or browsing online and reading the back cover of your book or the introduction, what kind of person are they ? What interests do they have? Why would your book appeal to them? At the same time chart out all the different ways you will able to tap into those ideal clients in your marketing strategy.

5. Keep the flow going rather than constantly going back, correcting and editing, that can all be done later, one absolute top tip is get away from your usual working environment to write occasionally, even if you are usually pretty good at ignoring the phone, focusing on the task in front of you rather than the laundry that needs doing or the rubbish that needs attending to – it can still be liberating to be away from any distractions, often you find you can be twice as productive – even if you are in a public space such as a library or hotel foyer.

To be published or go it alone?

This is a key question which you may not initially have the answer to, one thing is for certain though self-publishing used to be seen as the lesser option, not anymore, I have a colleague who has turned down offers from publishing houses because her self-published books are extremely successful and there would be no point sharing the revenue.

If you do want to go for the publisher first then make sure you get your proposal right, a good proposal will include a synopsis, some sample chapters and most importantly, information about your target clients and what you see as the current marketing opportunities for your book – yes despite being published you will be expected to be able to know exactly how the book should be promoted and to whom and the better your own platform, the greater the likelihood of being published.

Having your book out there doesn’t of course ensure it will sell, in fact its worth remembering that the majority of books published (and self-published) do not sell particularly well. You need to accept that a book is a fantastic calling card and be willing, if necessary to treat it as promotion for other work that you do. Its best to concentrate on raising awareness of your book and your work and all things being equal you should see some revenue over time.

Three key ways to get PR for your book.

Remember journalists and editors need to fill their column inches so create a great press release and offer succinct article / feature ideas from the content in your book, like all of us, journalists want an easy life, so make it clear and concise – always ensure that you pitch to newspapers and magazines that are your target demographic – don’t bother sending your book about fly fishing to Natural Health magazine!

Offer editorial and reader giveaways to local press, you are a big fish as an author in your local area so capitalise on that. You may also want to offer yourself as a guest on local radio/TV. Be careful though, in my work as a radio interviewer, I’ve come across lots of authors who have managed to attract a great opportunity but have certainly not maximised it, ensure you have some media training to ensure you get it right.

Use social media to promote your own blogs and articles, use content from your book and drip feed it across social networking, people do business with those they like know and trust and if you are the one that constantly writes interesting facts, amusing anecdotes or just fascinating gems of wisdom into their inbox or social media platforms, they are more likely to want to read your book

Information

Best-selling author who knocked The Davinci Code off the top spot, BBC Radio 2 presenter on the UK’s biggest radio show, and voted No 1 personality in the Natural Beauty Industry Yearbook consecutively, Janey Lee Grace offers an authentic author realisation programme where you can complete your book in just three months. Visit www.janeyleegrace.com for further information.

An Essential Clinical Consideration in Idiopathic Male Infertility and Unexplained Pregnancy Losses

By the BioMedica Nutraceuticals Technical Support Team

Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of idiopathic male infertility; with damage to the membrane of the sperm and DNA damage two proposed mechanisms by which reactive oxygen species may contribute to suboptimal sperm function. Promisingly, semen parameters in infertile men have been demonstrated to improve through N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) treatment.

To examine the effect NAC on semen parameters and oxidative/antioxidant status in idiopathic male infertility, 120 subjects were recruited for a randomised placebo-controlled study, with patients receiving either NAC (600 mg/d orally) for 3 months or placebo. NAC was shown to significantly improve the volume, motility, and viscosity of semen.¹ Following NAC treatment, the serum total antioxidant capacity was greater and the total peroxide and oxidative stress index lower in the NAC-treated group compared with the control group. The study found that these beneficial effects resulted from reduced reactive oxygen species in the serum and reduced viscosity of the semen.¹

In vitro studies have shown that NAC, alone or in combination with selenium, may assist with total sperm motility and improve germ cell survival in seminiferous tubules. A 2009 double-blind placebo-controlled randomised study, investigated the effect on semen quality of 26 weeks of daily administration of 200mcg selenium orally, 600mg NAC orally, or 200mcg selenium plus 600mg of NAC orally, on 468 infertile men with idiopathic oligo-asthenoteratospermia. Total sperm count, mean sperm concentration and normal sperm morphological ratio all demonstrated statistically significant improvement in active treatment arms. Further to this, hormonal modulation was noted with slight but statistically significant improvements in serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH) and testosterone.²

NAC has also demonstrated beneficial effects in promoting female reproductive health, and assisting to improve pregnancy outcomes.^3-5 Cervical mucous can be an indicator of female reproductive health and likelihood to fall pregnant. Viscoelasticity varies throughout the reproductive cycle and contributes to the ease of passage of sperm.² As a mucolytic agent, NAC may assist with the breakdown of tenacious mucous in the reproductive tract, thereby assisting the passage of sperm through the vaginal tract.³

A natural result of pregnancy is an increase in oxidative stress, particularly during the first trimester as placental mitochondrial activity and blood flow establishment occurs. Failure of antioxidant defences against this increased oxidative damage may contribute to unexplainable losses early in pregnancy.³ One study examined the impact of NAC on unexplained pregnancy losses. Comparison of a combination of 600mg of NAC with 500μg of folic acid per day against 500μg of folic acid alone, found significant increases in both successful pregnancy continuation up to 20 weeks, and successful full-term deliveries in the group with NAC and folic acid combined.³

One of the leading cases of infertility in women is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which is characterised by at least two of the following; oligoovulation or anovulation, hormonal elevation of androgens and/ or polycystic ovaries. It occurs due to a complex multifactorial pathophysiology.⁶ Insulin secretion and insulin resistance have been noted in a large number of individuals with PCOS.⁴ NAC may play a role in insulin regulation in PCOS, and has demonstrated a positive effect on insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells. In addition, glutathione is protective of insulin receptors, and reductions in basal insulin levels have been noted in response to NAC administration.^4-5 Further to its insulin sensitising effects, NAC has been demonstrated to; reduce testosterone, DHEAs and free androgen index, as well as improve homocysteine status and lipid profiles among women with PCOS.^4-5

Selected references

1. Effects of N-acetyl cysteine on semen parameters and oxidative/antioxidant status, Ciftci H, Verit A, Savas M, Yeni E, Erel O. Urology. 2009 Jul;74(1):73-6. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2009.02.034. Epub 2009 May 9.
2. Efficacy of selenium and/or N-acetyl-cysteine for improving semen parameters in infertile men: a double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized study. Safarinejad MR, Safarinejad S. J Urol. 2009 Feb;181(2):741-51. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2008.10.015. Epub 2008 Dec 16.
3. Amin AF, Shaaban OM, Bediawy MA. N-acetyl-cysteine for treatment of recurrent unexplained pregnancy loss. Reprod Biomed Online. 2008 Nov;17(5):722-6.

About BioMedica Nutraceuticals

BioMedica is an Australian company synonymous with exceptionally high quality nutraceuticals developed by practitioners for practitioners. BioMedica’s growing reputation is founded upon quality, efficacy, and unique no-to-low excipient formulations; along with our dedication to preserving and enhancing the role of the holistic practitioner through our stringent practitioner only sales policy. Our products are produced to pharmaceutical standards enforced by Australia’s GMP and TGA guidelines. GMP quality controls ensure what’s on the label, is what’s in the formula.

BioMedica offers a comprehensive selection of core dispensary formulas, as well as those developed specifically to support various common clinical presentations. Our products feature in Australian clinics specialising in fertility, adrenal health, gastrointestinal health, and oncology support. Our unique clinical range is available in the UK either directly from BioMedica or from The Natural Dispensary.

Tanya Kwiez Circosta (MSc-Nut, BHSc, ND) is the UK Practitioner Consultant for BioMedica Nutraceuticals

Tanya is a qualified Nutritionist and Naturopath with over 6 years’ experience consulting within the healthcare industry. Tanya has a Masters of Human Nutrition and Masters in International Development. Highly dedicated to the natural therapies industry, Tanya is excited to be bringing BioMedica’s ‘Strictly Practitioner Only’ product range to UK practitioners.

For further information please contact Tanya:
Phone: +44 7511 533 979 or
[email protected]
www.biomedica.uk.com

CNHC update

• Want to maximise your chances of working with the NHS?

Come to the CNHC Business Clinic at this year’s camexpo where we will be explaining how changes to the way health and care services are being delivered can create opportunities for complementary therapists – if you know how to use them. The Business Clinic is being held on Saturday 26 September from 2 – 2.45pm.

If you want to know more about CNHC and our work, or just want to know more about standards in the sector, do come to see us at Stand 1320. We are really looking forward to this year’s camexpo and hope to see you there.

• New CNHC Chair

Sheila Inglis

We are pleased to announce that from 1 January 2016 the new Chair of the CNHC Board will be Michael Watson. Michael joined the Board as a lay member in May this year as announced in CNHC’s June 2015 newsletter. Sheila Inglis, CNHC’s current Acting Chair, will continue in this role
until 31 December 2015, and will revert to her role of Vice Chair from 1 January 2016.

Michael Watson

Michael commented: “I am delighted to have been elected as the new chair of CNHC and look forward to working with Margaret and the executive team. My background with both osteopathy and acupuncture has shown me time and again the value of an integrated approach to healthcare. I am adamant that all of our registrants have a key role to play in the healthcare of the nation and have shown this with their commitment to standards through voluntary regulation. I intend to focus my efforts, working with the executive, to ensure we get this message across to patients and those in positions of influence.”

You can see full details of Board members on our website here: CNHC Board members

• Opportunity to support government funded complementary therapy research project

The University of Bristol is conducting a Department of Health funded scoping study of complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) and they need your help. The study will focus on patients in primary care with multiple conditions including mental health and musculoskeletal problems.

1) Do you know of any unpublished or ongoing systematic reviews using complementary approaches for musculoskeletal and/or mental health? They are interested in the following conditions:

• Back, neck, shoulder, knee pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia , chronic pain, headache
  and/or
• Anxiety, depression, stress, bipolar, chronic fatigue syndrome and sleep problems

2) Do you know of any services in the UK where an integrated approach - CAM alongside conventional NHS treatment - is currently provided or has recently been provided?
If you have information that could help towards this study, please contact Ava Lorenc [email protected]. The deadline is the end of September 2015.

For further information please visit: University of Bristol Centre for Academic Primary Care.

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