camexpo celebrates successful 10th anniversary show!

Adulteration of Black Cohosh is “rife” – BHMA

MHRA warns of Black Cohosh risk as woman undergoes liver transplant

Kate Humble launches natural beauty range

Seasonal sniffles? – it could be Christmas Tree Syndrome!

camexpo celebrates successful 10th anniversary show!

London’s Earls Court was transformed into a vibrant showcase of the very best in complementary and natural healthcare products and services last month, as camexpo celebrated its tenth anniversary edition on 20-21 October with 5,492 total attendees.

The essential two-day event for the UK’s CAM practitioners and therapists, camexpo has been hailed a huge success by attending visitors, who packed the aisles to see the latest offering from 170 exhibiting companies. camexpo’s renowned CPD-accredited conference programme also enjoyed enthusiastic crowds, with many speaker sessions filled to capacity and the majority of taster workshops sold out in advance of the opening day. Whilst the show’s exhibitors left the show impressed by the wealth of quality attendees that organiser Diversified Business Communications UK had delivered.

Zoe Campbell, event manager of camexpo, is delighted with the results: “We have just had our best camexpo ever. The overwhelming feedback we’ve received so far from many of our exhibitors is that they enjoyed a very productive and successful show. I would like to say a huge thank you to all of our exhibitors, visitors, speakers, and supporters, for making this year’s milestone anniversary show so very special. It was fantastic to be able to celebrate – not just ten years of camexpo – but the achievements and growth of the CAM industry as a whole – in such great company.”

“camexpo is always outstanding – and is an absolute ‘must attend’ event for anyone involved in complementary medicine, integrative medicine and natural healthcare,” adds Jayney Goddard, president of the CMA, whose session on how to build more profit into CAM practices drew standing room only crowds to the show’s new Hot Topic Discussion Desk zone. “This year – however – on camexpo’s 10th anniversary the organising team at Diversified UK pulled out all the stops and delivered a show that was truly exceptional in every respect. Every year I attend I always think that camexpo can’t possibly get any better – and am always proven to be totally wrong. I don’t know how they do it – but this show is truly incredible and here at The Complementary Medical Association we are proud to be involved.”

Despite severe disruptions on the public transport links serving Earls Court and West Brompton over the camexpo weekend, thousands of dedicated practitioners, therapists, CAM students and health store buyers flocked to the show. Attendees benefited from incredible ‘show only’ savings on thousands of essential CAM purchases, plus an unrivalled opportunity to be kept up-to-date with all the latest research and developments by big name industry speakers and trainers in the show’s 22 free Keynote seminars (in two Revital-sponsored theatres), 33 free training and development sessions in its CThA Demo Theatre and CAM Stage Live!, new Hot Topic Zone sessions, and 48 Taster Workshops (sponsored by Balens).

Therapist Lorraine McClellan was just one of thousands of visitors who left camexpo with a host of new business ideas: “I think the show’s fabulous! It’s very informative and great for networking. I came with some exhibitors in mind but am very delighted to have found a choice of great new products and new avenues to explore.”

“camexpo really opens up your mind to the wide scope of alternative medicine,” agrees nutritional therapist Shaherah Jordan. “It’s been one of the most enjoyable days I have spent in a long time.”

Whilst highly satisfied exhibitors included Denise Tiran, educational director at Expectancy, who commented: “This has been our most successful show since we started exhibiting seven years ago! Visitors seem to be much more focussed – definitely our best show yet.”

Exhibitor Lisa Whitehead, consultant therapist at Botanicals Natural Skin Care, was equally upbeat: “It was the first time we’ve exhibited at camexpo, and what a great show it was! There was such a buzz in the hall and we were absolutely delighted with the level of serious interest in our range from therapists.”

“Busy show, the quality of visitors has been amazing – even better than last year. But it’s not just about our business and sales, visiting practitioners are really interested – and genuinely grateful – in the quality of product research that we are doing on their behalf,” says Sarah Daly, sales manager at A.Vogel.

“Really good show, it’s our third year exhibiting and this is the best one yet!” says Julie Goodwin, owner of Healing Bamboo/Kokoro Haramaki.

“camexpo was a fantastic venue at which to showcase payleven’s revolutionary new smartphone based credit/debit card payment system. We were overwhelmed with interest from individual therapists (with over 100 signing up at the show), who were excited by the prospect of finding a low-cost mobile solution to a long-standing problem of how to take card payments,” says Ian Marsh, director of payleven UK.

“Another fabulously successful show! This has to be the number one show for anyone serious about promoting their brand to the CAM marketplace. We’ll be back next year!” says Amanda Nelson, managing director of Manifest Health Ltd.

Show highlights included the announcement of the winners of camexpo’s three prestigious annual awards, including the Best New CAM Product Award 2012, voted for by visitors to the show’s New Products Showcase on Saturday 20 October. The winner – by some margin, was MyChelle Dermaceuticals by Eterno Naturals.

“We’ve been non-stop this year – and sold lots of products. The show has had a great buzz and we’re delighted to have won this year’s Best New CAM Product Award,” says Nigel Barton, managing director of Eterno Naturals.

Another camexpo winner was CNHC registered nutritional therapist Catherine Jeans, who together with her co-owner Jackie Heffer-Cooke, runs The Orange Grove Clinic in Norwich, which won the CAM Clinic of the Year Award 2012. The Award, sponsored by Viridian Nutrition, in association with The Nutri Centre, included £500 prize money, and was presented by Jayney Goddard, president of The Complementary Medical Association (CMA). The Award, which is now in its third year, was judged on the treatments offered, marketing, client testimonials, unique selling points and all round client experience. The final shortlist, drawn from over 50 entries from clinics all around the UK, also included The Perrymount Clinic in Haywards Heath, Sussex, and Fine Fettle in Bookham, Surrey.

The judging panel were impressed by the high quality of entries but singled out The Orange Grove Clinic for its distinctive approach and “fantastic client testimonials”, commenting: “The winning clinic not only offers a wide range of therapies, the clinic also offers a range of specialist fertility, pregnancy and post natal treatments, classes and courses as well as catering for the health and wellbeing of its city.”

“Jackie and I created The Orange Grove Clinic to provide the people in our region with a nurturing and professional complementary centre, dedicated to integrated healthcare using a multi-therapy approach to ensure the best support for each and every client. This award is dedicated to our wonderful team of therapists and receptionists who have worked so hard to bring The Orange Grove Clinic to such prestigious recognition, just one year after opening,” says Catherine Jeans, co-owner of camexpo 2012’s winning CAM clinic.

The recipients of camexpo’s fourth annual, industry-voted CAM Outstanding Achievement Award were also a popular choice – particularly as they were accepting the honour for an unprecedented second year running. The winners Meghan Mari and Rachel Fairweather, directors and co-founders of the Jing Institute of Advanced Massage Training, enjoyed a standing ovation as they accepted the award from Diversified UK’s managing director Carsten Holm. Aside from winning an overwhelming majority of votes, many of Meghan Mari and Rachel Fairweathers’ legion of followers submitted glowing testimonials on their behalf, including the following by one anonymous supporter:

“Brilliant, passionate and so enthusiastic towards everyone who walks into their training rooms, my business wouldn’t be where it is now without their continued support.”

“For once in our lives we are without words! To receive the CAM Outstanding Achievement Award for the second year running is an incredible privilege and we feel absolutely thrilled and honoured,” commented Mari and Fairweather earlier this week. “Without a doubt, camexpo has become ‘the show’ in support of complementary therapies and we would like to thank the organisers for their whole hearted support of the massage profession and the wider CAM community.”

“We accept this award on behalf of massage therapists everywhere who are aiming to raise the standards of the profession and especially to the first graduates of our BTEC level 6 degree level programme in advanced clinical and sports massage. Together we are proud and strong; Jing has always been about the power of realising your dreams and working together we are so much more powerful than we are alone. Thank you to everyone who has helped us to achieve our dreams – we endeavour to continue to support you to realise yours,” continued Mari and Fairweather.

camexpo will return to Earls Court, London, in 5-6 October 2013. For further information, please visit www.camexpo.co.uk, or stay up-to-date with all the latest news and 2013 exhibitor information via the show’s facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/camexpoevent) and twitter account (@camexpo).

Adulteration of Black Cohosh is “rife” – BHMA

Posted on31 October 2012. Tags: adulteration, BHMA, Black Cohosh, MHRA - www.Naturalproductsonline.co.uk

The British Herbal Medicines Association (BHMA) has warned that the situation in which an unregulated Black Cohosh product caused liver failure “must never be allowed to happen again”.
Earlier this week the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) warned consumers about the dangers of unlicensed Black Cohosh remedies after a woman suffered serious liver failure when she took an unnamed unlicensed product containing the herb. The woman subsequently required a liver transplant.
In a statement, the BHMA said that the case was a “tragedy for the individual concerned and an important reminder of the need to regulate the supply of herbal medicines in the public interest”.
The Association says that it has consistently called for strict controls of the supply of black cohosh since reports were published almost 10 years ago linking consumption of unregistered products to liver disease. It points out that despite it having been a legal requirement since April 2011 for all manufacturers of black cohosh (and other herbal medicines) to register products under the Traditional Herbal Registration scheme, many non-registered products have remained on the market.
The BHMA says adulteration of Black Cohosh with the wrong species “is rife” resulting in finished products with “uncertain safety profiles”.
These products continue to be a threat to public safety says the Association, which is calling on the UK regulators to take “robust steps to ensure that this tragedy doesn’t happen again”.

MHRA warns of Black Cohosh risk as woman undergoes liver transplant

Posted on30 October 2012. Tags: Black Cohosh, liver failure, MHRA, THR - www.Naturalproductsonline.co.uk

The Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has warned consumers about the dangers of unlicensed Black Cohosh remedies after a woman suffered serious liver failure when she took an unnamed product containing the herb. The woman subsequently required a liver transplant.
An investigation into the case and the product involved is ongoing.
The MHRA says it has received 53 reports of adverse reactions “suspected to be associated with the use of Black Cohosh” through the Yellow Card safety reporting system.
In a statement the MHRA urges consumers to choose herbal products licensed under the Traditional Herbal Registration scheme and to look for the THR logo on packs. THR products are required by law to provide comprehensive safety information – including, in the case of Black Cohosh, warnings to people with liver conditions not to take the product. Although since 2006 the Agency has asked manufacturers of all Black Cohosh products to ensure that appropriate safety warning is included in packaging, it says that some manufacturers have ignored the advice.
The MHRA told the Daily Mail that the agency had also found Black Cohosh being sold as a food supplement at 50 times the recommended dose.
Richard Woodfield, the MHRA’s head of herbal policy, said: “Unlicensed herbal medicines may have incomplete, inaccurate or no safety information and can mean you are gambling with your health, especially if you take these products without consulting a GP or a qualified healthcare professional.”
One industry insider told Natural Products: “We have been predicting this situation for years as it has been known that some manufacturers and suppliers have been selling high dose unregulated material with major health implications. We are now perilously close to losing another wonderful herb because of money-crazed companies who know nothing about herbal medicine or medical ethics.”

Kate Humble launches natural beauty range

Posted on29 October 2012. Tags: beauty range, Kate Humble - www.Naturalproductsonline.co.uk

The Springwatch presenter and TV personality Kate Humble is launching a new eco-friendly natural beauty range, reports licensing.biz.
The new 12-product strong range includes foaming bath, shower gel, body lotion and body scrub lines. All the products will be free from parabens and SLS and come in packaging made from 100% recycled material.
Humble, who presented the 2012 Natural and Organic Awards at Natural & Organic Products Europe told licensing.biz: “All packaging will carry the ‘Humble promise’ – to only deliver products which are natural, with ‘no chemicals or hidden nasties’, and which come in 100 per cent recycled packaging.This isn’t just an endorsement, it’s a personal project – this is my product.

Seasonal sniffles? – it could be Christmas Tree Syndrome!

Posted on25 October 2012. Tags: Allergy, Christmas tree, HayMax – www.Naturalproductsonline.co.uk
Seasonal sniffles experienced by many people at this time of year might not be due to the common cold after all. Recent evidence demonstrates that many people are actually allergic to their Christmas tree!
The traditional seasonal centre-piece could be harbouring a wide range of airborne allergens, which can cause irritation and allergic reactions. Many people suffer with common cold-type symptoms, such as an itchy nose, watery eyes, sneezing, coughing and, for asthma sufferers, an acute flare-up of wheezing and shortness of breath.
A 2011 survey found 35 per cent of people in the UK suffer from an increase of hay fever like symptoms at Christmas, and that real trees caused most problems. And the findings of a further study show that pollen grains collected in the tree bark can affect hayfever sufferers too. When the tree is brought into the house, the tree resin dries, releasing more pollen into the air, causing potential allergic reactions – a condition known as Christmas Tree Syndrome.

Fortunately there are a number of natural options for tackling the problem. These include putting up the tree as late as possible, positioning an air purifier near the tree and using a barrier balm.
A new study shows that the HayMax barrier balm traps both indoor and outdoor airborne allergens from entering the body – helping block the pollen, mould, dust and pet dander that cause the problem. If this keeps a sufferer below their trigger level, they ought to have no allergic reaction to their tree.