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Short Features and Brief Takes Issue 157

listed in product news, originally published in issue 157 - April 2009

Health Matters London

Health Matters London Ltd. is a family business run by practitioners, dedicated to people's health. The website was developed to bring a variety of high quality Herbal Medicines, Supplements, Organic Cosmetics, and Face and Body products to men, women and children. Health Matters strives to source the best quality natural products and medicines to supply the general public as well as professional practitioners, as we believe that when we put the best into our bodies our bodies will give us the best back.

Health Matters offers sound beneficial free advice from our advice line and online articles that people can put into action to prevent, maintain and treat ill health and bring about a better quality of life. New information about a wide range of healthcare topics from a variety of healthcare professionals is added to the website on a monthly bases.

Health Matters also offers consultations with a qualified medical herbalist trained in western herbal medicine. Furthermore, an Endobiogenic evaluation (see the section on Endobiogenic and Herbal medicine on our website) is also available.

Further Information
Please contact Health Matters London on Tel: 020 3011 7836; health@healthmatterslondon.co.uk    www.healthmatterslondon.co.uk

Hot and Cold Stone Pregnancy and Post Labour Treatment

Most women suffer some kind of condition during Pregnancy. The most common case is back pain, sacroiliac pain, piriformis syndrome or other musculoskeletal pain. Hormones also relax ligaments, which can lead to possible joint misalignment. Other discomforts during Pregnancy are Oedema and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Being massaged with hot and cold stones, women obtain real benefits from the temperature being supplied by the stones. For example, heat immediately relaxes and relieves muscle spasm, carpal and myofascial pain and relieves stress from the weight-baring joints; whilst cold relieves pain, reduces water retention, stimulating the lymph function and reduces inflammation around the joints.

JSS (Jane Scrivner Stone) only teaches professional, qualified stone therapists. Research has been on-going now for the past seven years; countless women have experienced this treatment to provide JSS with the knowledge required to present it as one of their leading treatments.

Therapists wanting to learn this treatment will be taught how to provide emotional support to a mother through the full term of pregnancy, learning what exactly happens during this period, how to take blood pressure, cover high risk pregnancy & contra-indications, hormonal changes, relevant anatomy & pathology, advanced stone massage techniques and post-labour recovery plus much more.

Further Information
Please contact Debbie on Tel: 0208 3144592; info@stonetherapytraining.com www.stonetherapytraining.com

Raworth International College of Natural, Nutrition and Sports Therapies

The Raworth Centre brings you an unrivalled wealth of experience, the product of 25 years of uncompromising commitment to the training of professional therapists from countries all over the world.

Its two Founding Principals, possessing a unique combination of professional qualifications and successful careers in Nursing, Complementary Therapy and Higher Education, were dedicated to elevating standards of training, recognizing the need for greater depth of knowledge and professionalism.

The Raworth Centre now embraces a diverse range of training programmes across the whole spectrum of health care – Natural Therapies (Aromatherapy, Reflexology and Beauty), Sports therapy and Nutritional Therapy, including Continuing Professional Development and "Refresher" courses.

Choosing a course of training for a whole new career, or to enhance your existing skills, can be an intimidating experience. Come and talk to us about your plans, hopes and concerns and we hope to give you the confidence to make an informed well-considered choice of professional training.

Further Information
Please contact Raworth Centre on Tel: 01306 742 150; Fax: 01306 742 163; reception@raworth.com www.raworth.com

Xoçai™ Nuggets, the Ultimate Antioxidant Treat!

Xoçai™ Nuggets, are an extremely high cocoa content chocolate combining the exotic flavors of dark chocolate with Açai and Blueberries. Each 12-gram Xoçai™ Nugget is made with rich, dark, Belgian Chocolate. There are 100 Nuggets per case. They are suitable for Vegetarians and Vegans. The Xoçai™ Nuggets are considered a "Clean Product": No Artificial Colors, No Artificial Flavors, No Preservatives, and No Sucralose.

There have been numerous studies, including Cardiovascular Studies, on the health benefits of Dark Chocolate. Often these studies have included the Dove® Dark Chocolate Bar. MXI Corp believes in the future that these types of studies will be done with the Xoçai™ Nuggets once they see the Nugget's Nutritional and ORAC Profile. View the Nutritional and ORAC Profile Comparison of the Xoçai™ Nuggets and the Dove® Dark Chocolate Bar.

Each 12-gram piece of Xoçai™ Nuggets has an ORAC Value or Antioxidant Content of 3,120, and the USDA recommends at least 3,000 to 5,000 per day. Furthermore, the Xoçai™ Nuggets are the only Chocolate Bar, dark or milk, in the marketplace that has printed on the packaging the ORAC Value or Antioxidant Content of the product. We're truly excited that we have the Ultimate Antioxidant Treat with a balanced nutritional profile.

Further Information
For further information please visit www.mxicorp.com/remote/nuggets/ www.myamazingchocolatebusiness.com/

Wheatgrass Nature's Finest Medicine: The Complete Guide to Using Grass Foods

by Steve Meyerowitz

World expert on wheatgrass, juicing and sprouting, Steve Meyerowitz, aka the Sproutman, is visiting the UK in early April to promote his book Wheatgrass, Nature's Finest Medicine. As a guest of Xynergy Health Products, he will also be attending the Natural Products Show at Olympia on 5th and 6th April.

If you have ever wanted the full story about the wonders of wheatgrass juice, this is your opportunity to hear it from a true aficionado. More than a trendy drink in juice bars, wheatgrass juice offers a whole host of natural health benefits – from being an energising tonic to an effective mouthwash or facepack.

The earth is covered with it. Four of the world's top five crops come from it. Muscular 2,000 lb animals sustain themselves on it and science has found every nutrient in it. Could it be that the planet's most ubiquitous vegetation is also its finest medicine?

One of nature's best kept secrets may be right under our feet!

Xynergy Health Products is a distributor of high quality supplements. One of the early pioneers of health foods, Xynergy was the first to introduce Spirulina and Aloe Vera juice to the UK. Xynergy also includes therapeutic honeys, remedial herbs and natural skincare products in its range.

Further Information
Find out more about Steve Meyerowitz at www.sproutman.com
Steve Meyerowitz's visits to the UK are rare... if you would like to meet him please contact Xynergy Health Products on Tel: 01730 813642; naturally@xynergy.co.uk www.xynergy.co.uk

Didi Sudesh: UK Raja Yoga Meditation April

For over 50 years Didi Sudesh has been an outstanding lecturer, teacher and broadcaster on meditation and spirituality. She has been invited to address international conferences, co-ordinate workshops and run seminars in over 80 countries.

She has the unique ability of crossing cultural differences, serving as a bridge between East and West. Born in North India in 1942, her ambition since early childhood has been to follow a spiritual path and serve humanity. Her teaching abilities were evident from childhood, when unique circumstances made her headmistress of a girl's school at the age of 16. She is the European Director of the Brahma Kumaris, based in Germany.

Raja Yoga Meditation as practised by the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University is a perfect tool to bring about change in our awareness and attitude. There are two special programmes with Didi Sudesh The Heart of the Matter [in English] Thursday 23rd April 2009 and Inner Powers for Effective Living [in Hindi] on Tuesday 28th April.

Further Information
For more details and information on courses and programmes please contact Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University on Tel: 020 8727 3350; www.bkwsu.org/uk/whatson

Free Massage Equipment for Colleges

Leading massage table supplier Therapy Essentials is launching a brand new scheme that will provide colleges with a unique way to upgrade training equipment and maintain supplies of essential consumables.

The Affinity Advantage rewards scheme is open to any educational institution that provides training in therapies requiring massage tables and related therapy equipment.

Colleges are invited to sign up to the scheme which will earn them points each time they purchase equipment from a participating distributor. The scheme also enables participating colleges to pass on membership benefits to their students. This will both increase the number of points they are able to accumulate and offer students additional benefits.

Further Information
To find out more about Affinity Advantage or to sign up to the scheme, please contact Spencer Randon on Tel: 0800 083 5530; www.affinity-advantage.com

UK Trial Identifies Probiotic for IBS Patients

Research from the University of Sheffield has shown that certain probiotics can help treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)[1], offering hope to the six million sufferers in the UK.[2]

In the randomized, placebo controlled trial involving 52 patients clinically diagnosed with IBS, half were supplemented with a high strength multistrain probiotic known as LAB4, commercially available under the name ProVen, whilst the other half took placebo. Patients were assessed every two weeks during the eight week supplementation period, and again two weeks after the trial had ended. Participants in the trial who took the LAB4 multistrain probiotic reported significant benefits in two weeks, with the majority seeing the following improvements after four weeks:

reduction in the severity of abdominal pain (P=0.0218)
reduction in the duration of abdominal pain (P=0.0058)
reduction of abdominal bloating (P=0.0218)
improved daily bowel movement (P=0.0422)
improved quality of life (P=0.0068)

Symptoms of IBS also returned to the patients who had been taking the LAB4 multistrain probiotic, highlighting that ongoing supplementation may be necessary to help prevent IBS symptoms from returning.

Scientists have long suspected that probiotics can help maintain digestive health and transit, but this is the first clinical trial to confirm the LAB4 multistrain probiotic as the natural treatment of choice for IBS sufferers. The results are due to be published later this month in the Journal of Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

References
1. Williams E, Stimpson J, Wang D, Plummer S, Garaiova I, Barker M, Corfe B. Clinical trial: a multistrain probiotic preparation significantly reduces symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in a double-blind placebo-controlled study. Ailment Pharmacol Ther. [Epub ahead of print]. Sep 10 2008.
2. The Gut Trust.

Further Information
The multistrain probiotic known as LAB4 is now available under the brand name ProVen, exclusively available from www.verywisenutrition.co.uk

Relaxation to Relieve Pain

Constant pain is uncomfortable, wearing on the nerves, can affect your sleep and can be depressing.   However one technique which can help relieve pain and calm the nerves is the daily practice of breathing and relaxation techniques.

Deep abdominal breathing, encourages production of endorphins (the so-called 'happy hormones') which are a natural pain reliever. It also helps reduce tension in the body and mind, releases toxins which gather around tight and tense areas and can help during periods of acute pain.

We can use visualization techniques alongside the breathing and relaxation to help us.   For example, close your eyes and imagine you can see a dial (a little like a volume control).   The dial is in your control and you can turn it up or down.   Think about your pain and turn the dial to whatever level you think it is on the volume control.   Mark it between 0 and 10.   If your pain at present is at 7, visualise turning the dial to 5 and observe how you feel, breathing deeply and calmly.   Repeat this procedure, turning the pain down in stages and noticing the effect this has.

Further Information
Please contact Annie Lawler at Breathing Space Therapies & Breathing Space for Business on Tel: 0772 581 8884; annie@breathingspacetherapies.com www.breathingspacetherapies.com

Calcium....Are You Getting Enough?

Each year in the UK, over £1.7 billion is spent on treating osteoporosis and experts are predicting an epidemic in women within the next ten years.[1] Osteoporosis is caused by insufficient calcium in a person's diet, which causes the body to break down more bone than it makes.

Each person in the UK should be getting 800mg of calcium per day. Women often need more than men as they have less bone mass than men and lose it faster as they get older.

Although the UK RDA is set at between 800-1200mg of calcium per day, according to the Journal of Orthopedic Surgery, more than half of the population (including almost three quarters of 25-34 year olds) consume less than their recommended daily allowance.[2]

Foods with some of the highest levels of calcium include whitebait fish – 69 calcium points per serving, canned sardines – 35 points, dried figs –14 points and boiled spinach –13 points.

However these types of foods do not feature regularly in most people's everyday diet. Ellactiva chews are an alternative to top up calcium levels and ensure that bones stay strong and healthy. Ellactiva is a chocolate flavoured chew that makes it easy and convenient to get the right amount of calcium and other key bone-building nutrients. Ellactiva soft calcium chews contain calcium, phosphorus and magnesium from milk, a good source of bone-building nutrients. Because these minerals are bound in milk to peptides and proteins, they're naturally easy for your body to absorb.

References
1. www.helptheaged.org.uk/en-gb/AdviceSupport/HealthAdvice/Conditions/Osteoporosis/
2. www.josonline.org/PDF/v10i1p61.pdf

Further Information
Ellactiva is £3.99 for a pack of 28 chews and is available from selected Boots stores and from www.ellactiva.co.uk

Black Garlic Launches in the UK

Black Garlic Ltd announces the launch of 'black garlic' into the UK. Black garlic is aged fermented garlic. Its ageing process turns regular garlic's bitter white cloves into soft, sweet, black segments which are completely odourless.

The resulting sweet chewy pieces can be snacked on as well as cooked with and maintain all of garlic's health benefits. The product will be available in peeled segments, bulbs, paste, juice and powder form.

Katy Heath, Director of Black Garlic Ltd commented: "We are really excited to bring this delicious ingredient to the UK. Black Garlic has its roots in Korea where it is revered for its health inducing properties. We have already received a huge interest and are confident this will soon be part of everyone's kitchen. Garlic just got better."

Further Information
Please contact Black Garlic Ltd on Tel: 020 8815 0854; info@blackgarlic.co.uk; www.blackgarlic.co.uk