Positive Health Online

Time for a Global Micronutrient Food

by Simon Ranger, founder, Seagreens Trust

For many years I have been a member of The Japan Society in London which aims at deepening this particular cross-cultural relationship. Last year our newsletter published a beautiful Haiku by Mike Gallagher, another member: "Forever. The Sea Breathing. In and out".

Our native, wild brown seaweeds, which have been the subject of our research and production for human nutrition for the past 27 years, pre-date terrestrial plants and probably began as single-celled algae half a billion years ago. Rather recently, fish began to evolve into amphibians and land appeared between 250 and 150 million, and finally we humans have been around for 6 million years. The blink of an eye.

Wild Seashore with Autumn Colour Outer Hebrides

Terrestrial plants and animals had a hard time of it. No longer could they replenish their internal chemical composition from an abundant and relatively stable liquid source of all the micronutrients. Life had shifted irrevocably from evenly distributed nutrient abundance to unpredictable super-abundance or terminal deficiency, according to where at the moment they found themselves.

Even though Man has had the brain (some say because of a uniquely micronutrient-rich diet) to 'control' and stabilize his agricultural environment, his daily diet is still deficient in many micronutrients (trace minerals, vitamins, essential fatty acids, for example) and there is ample evidence (at least since the 1940s) of increasing scarcity, which some say (like Professor Michael Crawford in 'The Shrinking Brain', 2023) portents serious mental as well as physical decline in the 'best-fed' populations on earth.

At the same time, there has been a gradual awakening to the importance of food quality which barely surfaced before the second world war; more specifically the relevance of the marine food web as fundamental in our own evolution and health; and still more relevant to my thesis, the extraordinary correlation between the micronutrient composition of seaweed and almost every cohort with an underlying nutrient deficiency.

For the latter, the Seagreens project can take a humble bow. Humble because it is our abundant native wild seaweeds - the wild Wrack species in particular - which are the potential hero, rather than our decades of obsessive research of them (and we are still just at the beginning).

As no more than a casual glance at the 'Profile of nutrients' will show, provided beneath each of our nutrition products online at Seagreens.Shop, these primordial life forms - 'plants' is hotly disputed - uniquely contain a complete balance of all the micronutrients which runs not surprisingly parallel, in almost every respect, to our own "internal chemical composition".

The bottom line is that however much we eat from the land (and 'controlled' agricultural environments have become more like factories than nature), and however well we compose a land-grown diet, that food cannot contain or replicate the intricate balance of nature from which we and all life emerged, and literally still hunger for.

Further Information

Please contact Seagreens on Tel: +44 (0)1444 400403; post@seagreens.co.uk  https://seagreens.shop/

Complementary Health Professionals  CHP

Complementary Health Professionals is one of the UK's most respected umbrella professional associations that covers all therapies. As well as being a member of the UK Council for Soft Tissue Therapies (www.gcmt.org.uk) that drives forward the UK massage and sports massage profession, it is also a verifying organisation for the CNHC (www.cnhc.org.uk), our industry's voluntary self-regulatory body. We are an association that is run by therapists for therapists and the office is manned by an experienced therapist, educator and assessor that can support your needs. We offer all of the usual benefits of membership, including exemption from London Special Treatment Licenses, enhanced DBS checks, discounted therapy insurance up to £5 million cover and much more. We also sponsor Complementary Therapy Week in the UK each March and offer a free annual conference to our premier members as part of the celebrations. We also accredit training providers for quality training provision. Please check out our website for information on our membership packages: www.complementaryhealthprofessionals.co.uk

https://www.complementaryhealthprofessionals.co.uk/

Natural Therapeuticss

Natural Therapeutics is an accredited training provider through Complementary Health Professionals (www.complementaryhealthprofessionals.co.uk). We offer a range of complementary therapy diplomas including a Level 5 Aromatherapy & Essential Oil Science Diploma, Neuroskeletal Re-alignment Therapy, Crystal Healing Therapy and Reiki. We also offer a range of online and in-class CPD short courses and workshops specialising in essential oil therapy as well as a number of introductory courses if you are considering a career in complementary therapies. We are also able to help therapists with old or overseas qualifications that need to upgrade their certificates to current UK standards and we have a conversion and L5 top up courses for existing massage therapists and aromatherapists. Please take a look at our website for full details of courses, course dates and prices, which are all pay as you go to make it more affordable. If you would like to speak to us or email any questions, we would be only to happy to help. Hopefully see you sometime in 2025!

Further Information

Please contact CHP Complementary Health Professionals" <enquiries@complementaryhealthprofessionals.co.uk>

www.complementaryhealthprofessionals.co.uk

Official Sponsors of National Complementary Therapy Week 

Check out our webpage for accredited courses & CPD and our expert blog on the website

Preparing and Recovering Holistically After Double Hip Replacement

In April 2023, I underwent double hip replacement surgery—a transformative experience that taught me the importance of preparation and recovery. Having spent two years relying on crutches due to limited mobility during the pandemic, my muscles had experienced significant atrophy. This left me determined to approach my surgery and recovery with as much care and intention as possible.

Eight months prior to the operation, I committed to weekly somatic and physiotherapy sessions. These weren’t just physical preparations; they were lessons in unlearning the bad habits I’d developed. Years of restricted movement had altered my posture and biomechanics, so these sessions helped retrain my body and prepare it for the challenges ahead. The work was as much about awareness as it was about strengthening.

Performing exercises using the FlexxiCore Challenger Post-Surgery

A crucial tool in this journey was the FlexxiCore Challenger – a Whole Body Vibration device. With its ability to assist in muscle activation even during limited movement, it became my daily companion. Before surgery, I’d lie on the floor, place my legs over the machine with my ankles off the surface, and let it work its magic. The gentle vibrations helped release pent-up stress from my body, ensuring I maintained some muscle engagement despite my restricted activity levels.

Post-surgery, the FlexxiCore Challenger became an even more indispensable aid to my recovery. I used it once or twice daily, especially welcome on those damp and chilly English days when stiffness seemed to take hold. The vibrations not only eased the stiffness, but also supported the work of rebuilding strength in my legs and lower abdomen. A typical 10-minute session would leave me feeling invigorated and more mobile.

One of my favourite post-surgery exercises involved placing my feet up on the Challenger’s platform, performing a deep tuck bridge. This movement activated my lower abdominal muscles very effectively, giving me a sense of control and progress in my recovery journey. The simplicity of the exercise belies its effectiveness, making it accessible even for those like me in the early stages of rehabilitation.

For anyone preparing for or recovering from hip replacement surgery, I can’t recommend the FlexxiCore Challenger enough. It’s a versatile tool that complements physiotherapy and personal recovery routines beautifully. A word of warning, though: once your friends try it, you might find them visiting more often, tea in hand, ready to experience its benefits for themselves!

My recovery journey reinforced the importance of holistic preparation, combining physical tools, professional guidance, and self-awareness. Whether you're facing surgery or navigating life afterward, finding the right practices and tools can make all the difference. With dedication and the right support, the road to recovery can be as transformative as the surgery itself.

Further Information and Special Offer

Carolyn Wade can be contacted at carolynwade.com 

Energy for Health are offering a 20% discount on the FlexxiCore Challenger: quote PHCW25

For further information please contact Energy for Health on Tel: 01934 257066; 

email: info@energyforhealth.co.uk    www.energyforhealth.co.uk  FlexxiCore.com

The Essence of Clinical Aromatherapy Seminar has Lift Off!

Registrations have now opened for the 5^th edition of this international clinical aromatherapy seminar, celebrating as its theme: Aromatherapy in Integrated Healthcare.

Taking place in person at the University of Bath, England the 12th & 13th July, ECA2025 brings together aromaprofessionals from around the world for two full days of lectures as well as a rich networking experience and the opportunity to source top quality aromatherapy supplies and services in the adjoining Trade Show.

https://ecaromatherapy.com/

Hosted by director of Essential Oil Resource Consultants Rhiannon Lewis in partnership with the International Clinical Aromatherapy Network (ICAN), the ECA seminar series provides an unequalled opportunity to expand one’s aromatherapy knowledge and skills through its world class lecture program. It also serves to foster professional connections between participants, speakers, sponsors and suppliers. A certificate of attendance is provided for evidence of continuing professional development.

With ICAN as the main partner of ECA2025, special benefits are offered to Student, Professional and Business Members of the ICAN community. Perks include a discounted rate on ECA attendance plus a special ICAN networking Tea Party.

ICAN is the leading online network of professional aromatherapists worldwide! With 1700+ users based in 90+ countries, ICAN is a unique hub for education, professional support and constructive exchanges between aromaprofessionals. Basic user access is free. Paid Membership unlocks greater access and multiple advantages.

Rhiannon says

“This upcoming ECA edition is sure to inspire, inform and interest all those who are professionally involved with essential oils and aromatherapy! It will clarify the steps required to ensure successful and lasting integration of aromatherapy within healthcare settings. ECA has always been a sold-out seminar event so I highly recommend you reserve your place today! On-site university accommodation is also available to those who book early. I look forward to welcoming you there!”

Further Information

Book your ECA2025 place today: https://ecaromatherapy.com/

Join the ICAN Network: https://www.clinicalaromatherapynetwork.com/

Visit Essential Oil Resource Consultants: https://essentialorc.com/

Martin J Walker: 29 August 1947 – 3 Sept 2024

Martin Walker, in my view possibly the finest investigative writer and prolific author died 3 September 2024, shortly after his 77^th birthday. Born in Manchester in 1947, Martin had been an activist, investigator, political poster artist and writer for most of his adult life. His fourteen books, essays and articles and a large number of posters reflect an involvement in campaigns since the occupation of Hornsey College of Art, where he was a student in 1968. A detailed history of his campaigning and writing, is contained in his biographical essay, Perilous Journey. Between writing and investigating he designed and printed posters mainly for political community campaigns, worked for lawyers as an investigator and helped with the defence of those wrongly arrested and imprisoned.

https://slingshotpublications.com/Books

Apart from poster design he pursued his art training through ceramics, especially tile decoration and photography. He was personally interested in dissent in different professional fields, especially medicine and science and the complex decisions made by individuals who leave orthodoxy to enter the world of alternatives. On a broader level he was interested in how the growth of corporate power, capitalism and technology erodes individuality, individual choice and democracy. For the last twenty years his writing and investigating was confined almost entirely to the field of corporate lobby groups involved in pharmaceutical marketing and the cover-up of adverse reactions. His website provides a more complete view of his campaign involvement.[4] www.slingshotpublications.com/martin-j-walker

I was taken by surprise when Martin Walker contacted and met me in Bristol in 1992 to discuss the Organic Germanium debacle with me. During the mid to late 1980s, I had been researching organic germanium’s immune-enhancing properties with the objective of funding a pilot clinical trial to test organic germanium’s potential therapeutic efficacy for HIV/AIDs.[1] Martin Walker’s book Dirty Medicine[2] and subsequent update Dirty Medicine The Handbook[3]  blew the lid off my previously innocent and naïve understanding of science, research, politics and money (pharmaceutical drug companies). This weighty tome told a sorry saga of dirty tricks, character and professional assassination of just about everyone who was anyone in the world of Holistic Medicine and particularly AIDs/HIV: Nutritional physicians including Dr Stephen Davies, Dr Jean Munro, Nutritionists including Patrick Holford, Researchers including myself and individuals such as Monica Bryant who were marketing innovative therapeutic supplements such as Probiotics and Organic Germanium. The near demise of the Bristol Cancer Help Centre, caused by flawed research and tragic suicide of the senior researcher Professor Tim McElwain, as well as the persecution of Belinda Barnes and Foresight; these stories were just part of the 725 page weighty tome of Dirty Medicine.

Between 2007 and 2011 he  reported, wrote essays and edited and published two books by parents about the adverse reactions caused to children given the MMR vaccination. He followed and wrote about the case of Dr Andrew Wakefield attending every day of the bogus three year trial organized by the General Medical Council. Martin Walker's books have been hegemonic, including SKEWED: Psychiatric hegemony and the manufacture of mental illness in Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Gulf War Syndrome, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, HRT: Licenced to Kill and Maim,  Dirty Medicine and Dirty Medicine The Handbook, available from www.slingshotpublications.com/Books  and Amazon www.amazon.co.uk/Dirty-Medicine-Handbook-Martin-Walker/dp/0956409318 . He was a prolific activist on Facebook www.facebook.com/frakatime

Martin had been ill and increasingly blind toward the end of his life, due to type 2 diabetes. He lived with his wife Viviana and their two children in Spain for more than 20 years. If you are able, help to support them and please show your gratitude for Martin's lifetime of work devoted to truth and justice so that he can be comforted in these difficult times.

Show your support for this GoFundMe

https://www.gofundme.com/f/thank-martin-j-walker-for-his-work/donate?source=btn_story_donate

References

1. Goodman S. Organic Germanium – The Health and Life Enhancer. Thorsons. 1988. http://www.drsgoodman.com/books-goodman/51-germanium-book
2. Walker M. Dirty Medicine – Science, Big Business and the Assault on Natural Health Care. Slingshot Publications. 1993. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dirty-medicine-science-business-assault/dp/0951964607/ref=sr_1_2 www.slingshotpublications.com
3. Walker M. Dirty Medicine – The Handbook. Slingshot Publications. 2011. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dirty-Medicine-Handbook-Martin-Walker/dp/0956409318/ref=sr_1_1
4. Walker M. Cultural Dwarfs and Junk Journalism. 2008. https://slingshotpublications.com/martin-j-walker

Balens Specialist Insurance Brokers – Family Run Insurance Brokers for Health, Well-Being  and Beauty Professionals and Organisations

Established in 1950, Balens are part of the PIB Group, having joined as a 4th generation, ethical, family run Insurance Brokerage focusing on guidance, support and service. Balens have been offering specialist insurance across the Health, Well-being, Fitness and Beauty sectors since the early 1990s and now insure over 100,000 clients.  Our insurance solutions are available for individuals and their businesses as well as organisations, charities and the not-for-profit sectors. Our teams have considerable experience in these fields enabling them to focus on guidance, support and service to our clients.

https://www.balens.co.uk/

As an individual Health and Wellbeing practitioner you can be held legally liable for loss or damage to other people’s property, injury, harm or financial loss alleged to have been caused to your clients, patients or other parties as a result of your actions or advice that you have given. 

The individual insurance scheme offered through our Affinities team is unique to us and is one of the most comprehensive wordings of its type within the UK.  Through our chairman David Balen’s teaching and Healing, colleagues in the Natural Therapy fields asked him to get involved in the early 1990s in setting up multi-therapy insurance schemes for Health and Well-being Professionals. Such policies were not easily available to therapists at this time as the policies were more focused to those in the medical professions.  David worked on designing and refining cover that would meet the specific needs of Health and Well-being professionals, this is where our journey with these clients began.

At Balens we believe we are more than just insurance, we have witnessed many of our clients businesses grow and have been there throughout their journey offering insurance solutions along the way. Our focus is on supporting you and your business so you can focus on your specialist area whilst caring for your clients. As well as our individual cover we also offer a range of other policies which may be suitable for you and your business, including: Therapy/Treatment Room cover; Income protection solutions; Schools and Clinics packages; Health Products Insurance and more.

Further Information

To learn more about the policies we have on offer please visit our website or contact us:
 Tel : 01684 893006;      info@balens.co.uk          https://www.balens.co.uk/  

Datu: Authentic Wellbeing Retreats in Tuscany: Spring / Autumn 2025

Best for:

• Authentic Indian Ayurveda and yoga;
• Mind and Body reset;
• Gut Health; Stress Relief
• Digital Detox; Emotional recharge

For the third year in a row, Datu Retreats are bringing a team of 20 experienced and sought-after experts of Ayurveda, Yoga and other holistic practices from India to offer a transformative, authentic wellbeing Retreats in the Tuscan countryside. Not everyone is able to travel to India but many desire the same level of authenticity and expertise to enhance physical and spiritual wellbeing. Datu is one-of-a-kind retreats provide direct access to this timeless, authentic and precious expertise which is unavailable elsewhere in Europe.

https://www.datuwellness.com/

During the 7-day Retreat participants experience and learn about simple yet effective health-promoting lifestyle habits offered by traditional Ayurveda, Yoga and other wellbeing modalities. The all-inclusive Datu Retreat is a journey of deep relaxation, self-exploration and gentle cleanse. Inclusions:

• Accommodation for 7 nights;
• Three meals a day, afternoon tea and snacks;
• Online pre-arrival consultation with an Ayurveda doctor to personalise your retreat;
• Three consultations; 5 body treatments tailored to enhance your wellbeing journey;
• Daily retreat programme featuring yoga, meditation, breathwork, chanting, art therapy, cooking lessons, nature activities, sound baths, inspiring talks and more;
• Comfortable retreat attire and a gift bag.

Food is one of the key pillars of the wellbeing journey at Datu Retreats: guests enjoy delicious fusion meals influenced by Ayurvedic and authentic Mediterranean diet, prepared in line with the sattvic principles while using fresh and locally sourced ingredients within 15 miles; seasonal fruit & veg, ancient grains, Indian and Italian herbs and spices, healthy fats. Certain retreats feature a Michelin star guest chef, Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen, the first African chef to ever receive a Michelin Star at his highly sought after restaurant JAN a few hours away from Datu. The chosen retreat venue further enhances guests’ wellness transformation; This breath-taking setting is surrounded by the rolling hills, vineyards and olive groves of a picturesque Tuscan landscape.

Further Information

Datu Retreats run twice a year in Tuscany, with 4 retreats back to back in spring and 4 retreats in autumn. 2025 spring dates are:

13th March - 20th March; 22nd March - 29th March

1st April - 8th April; 9th April - 16th April

Prices start from £1,850 (classic double room based on 2 people sharing).

More information: https://www.datuwellness.com/

Media and PR Contact:

Ariadna Bakhmatova

Wellness Communications Consultancy

Tel: (0) 78 73499812

Ariadna.bakhmatova@gmail.com

The MAHA Mandate: Reversing America’s Chronic Disease Epidemic

by Robert Verkerk PhD and Jonathan Emord JD

anhinternational.org

https://www.anhinternational.org/news/anh-leaders-urge-us-support-for-rfk-jr-for-hhs-in-their-new-book/

In their new book released this week in e-book format, The MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) Mandate: Reversing America’s Chronic Disease Epidemic, Robert Verkerk PhD and Jonathan Emord JD explain how ‘big pharma’ and ‘big food’, along with their cosy relationship between the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have been major contributors to the chronic disease epidemic now afflicting the American people. Imagine a health system where you’re not a patient, but a partner. Where your doctor isn’t just a pill dispenser, but a guide to vibrant health. Where ancient wisdom and cutting-edge science work together to unlock your body’s innate healing power. This is the vision of RFK Jr’s MAHA mandate—a vision we've long shared at ANH. And now it's far from being just a pipe dream.

The MAHA Mandate 3-book

https://anh-usa.org/the-maha-mandate-reversing-americas-declining-health/

ANH's e-book provides a blueprint of how MAHA can be achieved! In Rob Verkerk and Jonathan Emord's new book you'll discover:

• The 21^stCentury Epidemic:Explains the multitude of factors that are contributing to the rapid decline in our health
• A Broken System: Exposes the deep flaws in existing healthcare systems and how we became dependent on big pharma and big food
• The MAHA Vision: How we need to shift from one-size-fits-all public health to personalized care, transparency, and freedom of choice
• A New Paradigm: Learn how we can create a future where proactive health, natural therapies, and open access to information reign
• ANH strategy for 2025: Find out about the 9 legal and regulatory actions we’ll be launching early in the new administration’s term that will be transformational for health.

Yes, I’d Love a Copy of the E-Book!

This is more than just a book – it’s a call to action to anyone – anywhere in the world – who cares about natural health, and freedom of choice and transparency in science. It's a call to those who want to see the end of corruption among the big corporates. The ripple effect of what our vision for America can have on the rest of the world is profound. 

Further Information: The MAHA Mandate: Reversing America's Chronic Disease Crisis is available at https://anh-usa.org/the-maha-mandate-reversing-americas-declining-health/ https://www.anhinternational.org/