Positive Health Online

Yoga Reduces Stress and Back Pain at Work

New UK research shows that yoga can reduce perceived stress and back pain at work.

Stress and back pain are two key factors leading to sickness absence at work, costing the British economy an estimated £17 billion per year.  This study by researchers at Bangor University suggests to employers that wellbeing programs that include yoga can have a significant impact not only in reducing stress, but also in preventing back pain. 

More than 80 participants in the study were recruited from Conwy County Council and randomized into a yoga group who received one 50 minute Dru Yoga session each week for 8 weeks along with a 20 min DVD for home practice, while a control group who received no intervention.

Dru Yoga is one of the UK’s largest schools of yoga, and includes therapeutic stretches and postures to ease back pain, flowing movements designed to relieve stress, and breathing exercises which calm the mind.

When compared with the control group, the yoga group scores were significantly lower for perceived stress, back pain, sadness and hostility, and much higher for feeling self-assured, attentive and serene. 

Susan Williams, a Community Engagement Officer for Conwy County Council who participated in the yoga group, said:  “I found that the Dru Yoga programme had a positive influence on my level of confidence.  I felt more in control, ready, aware, dynamic, even recognizing my own power.  I was happier, and it was so much easier to manage my circumstances.”

The study authors concluded: "The results indicate that a workplace yoga intervention can reduce perceived stress and back pain and improve psychological wellbeing.

"Larger randomised controlled trials are needed to determine the broader efficacy of yoga for improving workplace productivity and reducing sickness absence."

The study was published on-line in September in the Journal of Occupational Medicine (Oxford University Press). http://occmed.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2012/09/24/occmed.kqs168.full?keytype=ref&ijkey=0orT1KZh0OwoRNa

Further Information

More information about Dru Yoga is available at www.druworldwide.com/yoga

 

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Iron Mill Institute Accredited Training in Integrative Counselling & Psychotherapy

 

The Iron Mill is a long established educational organisation specialising in mental health and wellbeing training programmes and is a place of high professional standards. Our head office is based in Exeter in Devon and has been established for almost thirty years.

The Institute offers a range of nationally and internationally accredited trainings in Integrative Counselling, Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy, Gestalt Psychotherapy and Supervision. Iron Mill also offers specialist applications of clinical skills for those professionals working with Children and Adolescents, and a variety of CPD courses, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), support for written assignments workshops and introductory weekends. They are delighted to be a partnership organisation with the University of Worcester enabling them to deliver Post Graduate courses leading to a Masters Award in Integrative Counselling.

Iron Mill staff and students work within a culture of courtesy, care and creativity and there is a strong sense of a learning community as graduates return frequently to maintain contact or to participate in professional development programmes.

In order for students to complete their professional registration with the BACP, UKCP and other relevant awarding organisations,  Iron Mill training programmes cover a wide range of theoretical applications and are regularly updated in line with current theories, research and legislation.

Iron Mill’s professional training is delivered by qualified, experienced practitioners and tutors who all contribute their own specialist areas of expertise and creativity to the programme. Their outstanding reputation has been built over the last three decades; graduates continue to achieve success on entering the profession and secure employment across a wide variety of organizations.

Further Information

For more information on how to make the change to a more rewarding career path, please contact Iron Mill Institute on Tel: 01392-219200; info@ironmill.info   www.ironmill.co.uk

 

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Scottish School of Hypnotherapy Short and Taster Courses

Quality training in Clinical Hypnotherapy since 1989

If you are considering training in clinical hypnotherapy you will wish to avoid confusing and misleading information.

Attend one of the Scottish School of Hypnotherapy ‘taster’ courses where we can provide you with guidance and support in the selection appropriate training, ensuring that your choice of training provider is an informed one.

Introduction To Hypnotherapy

1-day courses are offered in various city venues:

• 24th November 2012 - Arthur Conan Doyle Centre, Palmerston Place, Edinburgh;
• 16th February 2013 – Brentwood Hotel, Aberdeen.

Introduction To Hypnotherapy

Two day residential courses are offered at the School in Argyll where you are able to sample training facilities and accommodation as well as enjoy Glorious Glendaruel.

Upcoming dates:

• 18th (eve only), 19th & 20th Jan 2013;
• 17th (eve only) 18th & 19th May 2013;
• 13th (eve only) 14th  & 15th  Sept 2013.

Further Information

For further information please contact us on Tel: 01369-820172 or email on info@learn-hypnosis.co.uk    www.learn-hypnosis.co.uk/training.html#sci

 

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Notes on Meditation

by Allan Armstrong

Published by Imagier Publishing. 2011. Softback. £9.50. ISBN-10: 0955841577.

Notes on Meditation is an introduction to some of the primary concepts, principles, techniques and exercises of the Order of Dionysis and Paul’s system and approach to Meditation.

There are two themes running through this book. The first is concerned with the biological and psychodynamic factors that stand as obstacles in the way of being effective in meditation, and provides simple methods and techniques to enable the practitioner to recognise, understand and overcome such obstacles and harness the extraordinary potential of the mind and soul. The second is concerned with describing the simple methods of meditation used within the Order of Dionysis and Paul.

The material in this book is presented as a series of modules that may be undertaken either by an individual, or used by a group and requires no further knowledge than is provided in each module. The work is self-explanatory and easy to engage with.

Author/s Allan Armstrong is the Prior of the Order of Dionysius & Paul, a position he has held since 1991. The ODP is a Religious Order dedicated to the contemplative life and the study of Comparative Religion, Mythology and Symbolism.

His life’s work is devoted to developing a greater understanding of the spiritual life and the path of spiritual perfection in the context of the Order curriculum. His research interests reflect this in his a life long study of Spiritual Disciplines; Prayer & Meditation; Ritual; Healing; Kabbalah and Mysticism

He has written introductions to the following books: A Handbook of Mystical Philosophy by G. B. Scaramelli; Dionysius the Areopagite on the Divine Names translated by C.E. Rolt; Prayer by Dudley Wright; The Adornment of the Spiritual Marriage by Jan van Ruysbroeck, and Father Lazarus’ translation of On the Prayer of Jesus by Ignatius Brianchaninov.

Further Information

Meditation Groups using Notes on Meditation as a guide:

Meditation Room Bude:  www.meditationroom.org.uk/

Meditation Room Bristol: www.meditationroom.org.uk/meditationbristol.html

Available from Amazon and from Imagier Publishing  www.amazon.co.uk/Notes-Meditation-Andrew-Francis/dp/0955841577   www.imagier.com/books/nom.htm

 

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Sweet Cures of York – Sugars that Heal for Bladder, Blood Sugar, Immune, Teeth and Bone Health

Sweet Cures®, based where the old sugar factory in York used to be, specializes in sugars that heal; these are essential sugars such as Waterfall D-Mannose, D Ribose, L-Arabinose, D-Xylose etc.

Does Waterfall D Mannose® work more effectively in the long term than Antibiotics?

The trouble with antibiotics for UTIs (urinary tract infections) is that they are seen as a panacea rather than being used appropriately as absolutely necessary. Doctors say that they are already under huge pressures at work, and just don’t have the time to argue with patients who start begging for antibiotics as soon as they feel ill.  Antibiotics save millions of lives every year, but there is another, worrying side to the over-use of antibiotics that is not always appreciated.

The bacteria that typically infect us are growing more and more resistant to antibiotics, with the result that there are now E.coli bugs, such as the potentially deadly strain, 0157:H7 that are gaining resistance to almost everything medically available, including broad-spectrum antibiotics. In addition, according to Drug Watch, adverse effects are reported by 35% of women using antibiotics. However, side effects are often delayed, with the result that both patients and doctors do not always associate new symptoms with the antibiotics that have caused those symptoms.

“Doctors are increasingly interested in a way to flush E. coli from the bladder completely,” Anna Sawkins says, “rather than just kill off some and leave resistant E.coli to begin to re-populate the bladder with resistant clones.”

There are other Sweet Cures superb products frequently bought alongside Waterfall D-Mannose. Customers use naturally produced Xylotene™ and High Carvacrol, Organic Oregano Oil for bacterial infections other than E coli. To rapidly restore the gut to a healthy balance, Sweet Cures Special Probiotic Blend has proved immensely popular; to monitor progress the dedicated Quickly Test™ Urine Test Strips 5V® quickly show the presence of infection along with other vital indicators.

Sweet Cures also have products that can help manage hunger cravings and act as an aid to weight loss (Diabetrose®). Taken half an hour before meals, glycogen uptake is controlled. HEDR® High Energy D Ribose, another pure-sourced product is widely used for a healthy heart and muscles.

Further Information

For more information please contact Sweet Cures on Tel: 01904-789559;

enquiries-not-spam@waterfall-d-mannose.com or visit www.waterfall-d-mannose.com/products.html   or www.sweet-cures.com

 

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Elena’s Nature Collection- Award Winning Skincare

Last year, in September, we were awaiting voters’ results from Imperfectly Natural, a company promoting all natural and eco friendly products run by Radio 2’s Janey Lee Grace. Much to our extreme happiness and pride our Illumination Cream won the Platinum Award for the best Problem Skin Moisturiser. This year we are very happy and proud to announce that we have won TWO Platinum Awards!

1st AWARD: Best Eye Makeup Remover - Our testers loved this natural eye makeup remover and found it particularly good for removing mascara.

Elena’s latest product in the range, ‘Eye Makeup Remover’ is carefully designed to be chemical free, milky and creamy, full of goodies to enhance the fragile eye lids, and moisturise the eyelashes as well as obviously removing mascara safely and efficiently. Indeed everyone loves it and it does exactly that! It also lasts a long time, so the cost is more than reasonable. Ingredients included in this product are: Aloe Vera which is soothing and moisturising, Calendula flower extract which is calming and known to have anti-inflammatory properties, and Ricinus (Castor) Oil which helps breakdown the mascara.

2nd AWARD: Readers Award - Best intensive moisturiser, Elena’s Illumination Cream.

Originally, this product was formulated as an alternative to Elena’s Eureka Cream which is ideal for stubborn and sensitive areas suffered by people who may be prone to eczema or psoriasis.

Illumination Cream is full of beneficial oils such as Jojoba, Wheat germ and Olive Oils, is easily absorbed by the skin to quickly transform it to look healthy soft and moisturised. Again, also safe and suitable for people who may be prone to eczema or psoriasis.

Further Information

For further information on all products within Elena’s Nature Collection Range, please phone the Helpline on Tel: 01435 882092 /884090; email Elena at elena@elenascollection.co.uk  or visit www.elenasnaturecollection.co.uk

 

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The Yoga of Pregnancy Week by Week -

Connect with Your Unborn Child Through the Mind, Body and Breath

by Mel Campbell

Published by Findhorn Press. 2012. Softback. £12.99. ISBN 978-1-84409-593-3

Distributed by Deep Books

“This book is aimed at mothers-to-be who wish to celebrate pregnancy and explore the joy of prenatal yoga.” - Mel Campbell

The Yoga of Pregnancy invites the reader to consciously connect with their unborn child through the mind, body and breath.

Follow the author as she take you on a forty-week journey with your growing baby including week-by-week practices of yoga, meditation and affirmations which reflect the developmental and physiological changes taking place for both of you.

Whether you are new to yoga or a regular practitioner, this book prepares you to simply be at one with your unborn baby, enhance your experience of the pregnancy and prepare yourself physically, emotionally and spiritually for pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood.

“An excellent book packed full of weekly exercises that perfectly complement each stage of the pregnancy and helps the mother to remain supple, relaxed and happy. The Yoga of Pregnancy also contains wonderful affirmations and intentions to create a strong, loving connection between mother and baby. Highly recommended.”

- Martin Gill, assistant editor Yoga Magazine

About the Author

Mel Campbell is an experienced yoga teacher, healer and mother to three children. Mel has travelled the world and pioneered prenatal yoga in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand. Based in the UK, Mel shares the wisdom of her studies, experiences and understanding with women, leading The Yoga of Pregnancy classes, workshops and hosting retreats. Inspired to write this book when she was pregnant with her third child, The Yoga of Pregnancy captures Mel’s two passions of yoga and motherhood.

Further Information

Available from bookstores and from Amazon

www.amazon.co.uk/Yoga-Of-Pregnancy-Week-By/dp/1844095932  

www.amazon.com/The-Yoga-Pregnancy-Week-ebook/dp/B009K92410

 

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Sleepio Online Sleep Improvement Programme

Hooked on sleeping pills and unable to get a good night’s sleep? Then why not try Sleepio’s ground-breaking online sleep improvement programme which has recently launched in 100+ Boots stores nationwide.

The 6-week Cognitive Behavioural Therapy course is the first drug free solution for people suffering with sleep problems and has already shown to have an impressive 75% success rate, costing individuals only £50. For the first time ever CBT has therefore, been made easily accessible and affordable to the general public, offering poor sleepers a viable alternative to sleeping pills, which cost the NHS £50million a year[2] yet are ineffective in helping persistent poor sleep.

The man behind the development of Sleepio is Professor Colin Espie, Founder of the Sleep Centre at the University of Glasgow who has commented: “I am delighted that Sleepio has been shown to work so well. People who took part in the clinical trial certainly improved their sleep and felt much better during the day. The level of support that the online programme offered them enabled them to overcome even longstanding sleep problems.”

With 37% of the population suffering from sleep problems, the issue is becoming increasingly common amongst many, with few solutions on the market to address it. We all know how important sleep is to our mental and physical state including cell regeneration, self-confidence, and energy levels. As reported in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Sleep (June 2012), in just 6 weeks Sleepio can help long-term poor sleepers:

• Fall asleep faster (54% less time to fall asleep on average);
• Stay asleep through the night (62% less time spent awake at night on average);
• Achieve a more reliable sleep pattern;
• Boost daytime energy, mood and concentration (58% self-rated increase on average);
• Double sleep quality (115% average self-rated increase).

Further Information

Sleepio’s innovative sleep solution has the potential to dramatically change the  way the NHS approaches sleep deficiency, offering an alternative to sleeping pills. For further information visit www.sleepio.com Available at all Boots stores www.boots.com

 

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TravelGuard® from Biocare

Don’t ruin your holiday, be prepared!

There is nothing that can ruin a holiday quicker than an upset stomach or illness. Yet, travel and sickness can go hand in hand for a number of reasons.  For one, you’re often very tired and your immune system is depleted from travelling. You’re also exposed to new bacteria, bacteria that may be completely harmless to locals but to those unfamiliar with it may experience an unbalance of their good and bad bacteria leading to an upset stomach, diarrhoea, nausea, cramps or bloating.

There are ways to help prevent these symptoms before you leave for that long awaited holiday, and ensure you get that well deserved rest. BioCare®, the professional supplement specialists, have developed TravelGuard®, a capsule that provides both probiotics, and plant oils in a daily supplement. According to Chris Newbold, Head Clinical Nutritionist at BioCare®; “It helps manage the balance of good and less desirable bacteria within the digestive system helping to re-balance gut flora and thereby supports the digestive system when travelling and when there is exposure to new bacteria in foods and water. “

The capsule includes ingredients: clove, cinnamon and oregano oils which have a long, safe history of use as food flavourings and help prevent spoilage of food by contaminants. Other ingredients included, such as probiotics and garlic may help maintain the balance of friendly bacteria in the intestinal tract. It also includes BioCare’s unique LAB4 complex, consisting of two specific proprietary strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus along with Bifidobacteria bidifum and Bifidobacterium lactis. LAB4 strains are native to the human digestion tract, acid-stable, and readily adhere to the intestinal walls.

Further Information

It is recommended that you take one capsule daily, with food. Travelguard® is available from all good health food stores. (£17.10 for 15 capsules).

 

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Pure Gold – Extra Virgin Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil - The New Superfood

The golden fields of Cotswold rape have been harvested and revealed their greatest health secret. Once pressed, rapeseed produces an oil which apart from being a cook’s best friend, is high in Omegas3, 6 and 9, is high in Vitamin E, has half the saturated fat of olive oil and is low in Cholesterol (0.1%).

Charlie Beldam owner of Cotswold Gold  www.cotswoldgold.co.uk  has been producing this super food on his family far for the last three years and says ‘The aim was to produce a  healthy alternative oil that can meet all culinary needs. Cotswold Gold is a natural Extra Virgin Rapeseed Oil, extracted by traditional cold pressing. This preserves the unique natural health benefits and gives the oil its vibrant golden colour.’

Cotswold Gold is suitable for all types of cooking from high temperature repeat cooking to salad dressing and has a unique and delicious flavour. The oil is a favourite with professional cooks, has been selected by Raymond Blanc for use in his kitchens and cookery school and is used in demonstrations for perfect mayonnaise by James Martin.

Cotswold Gold Ltd are very proud to have won, a gold star with the Great Taste Awards 2010 for the natural oil, a Gold Star Great Taste Award for the Dill infused Rapeseed Oil 2011, The Universities South West Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2010 and The Business Award 2010 for Entrepreneur of 2010. Cotswold Gold has also been voted for the top 50 companies to watch in the UK from the Real Business awards and was picked as the judges to 10 in 2011. Most recently Cotswold Gold was awarded Cotswold Life Food Product of The Year.

Cotswold Gold offers many health benefits to the user, these include:

• High in Omegas 3,6 & 9;  High in Vitamin E;
• Less than half the saturated fat of Olive Oil; Low in cholesterol (0.1%);
• The oil is 100% British and produced with very low food miles, the rapeseed is grown and processed all on farm;
• Cotswold Gold is good for you and the environment;
• GM free
• Suitable for high temperature repeat cooking to salad dressing and everything in-between!
• Has a unique and delicious flavour/colour

Further Information

Available from farm shops throughout the UK and from www.cotswoldgold.co.uk

 

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Something in the Water and Other Tales of Homeopathy

by Sue Lanzon

Published by Winter Press. 2012. Softback. £8.99. ISBN 1874581800.

Something In The Water offers an unusual insight into the practice of homeopathy through a collection of stories taken from the real life and work of a contemporary homeopath.
Ranging from the streets of South London to the shores of a Greek island, Sue Lanzon negotiates the minefield of current therapeutic expectations with wit, candour and a shrewd awareness of the complexity of human communication.

Remedies spring to life through a diverse array of characters, encountered both in and out of the consulting room. and the wider issues they provoke challenge our attitudes to illness, healing and the role of the practitioner in the modern world.

Extract from the Foreword by Martin Walker

Something in the Water is a book about homeopathy, its practice and its remedies. It is, however, not an ordinary book but a rare one, which echoes the story of its subject in both form and content. The broken narrative of incidental tales, recounted in the first person by a practicing homeopath someone who thinks homeopathically - offers us an everyday understanding of the homeopath and of homeopathy.  The education we are offered, however, is not from a factual, pragmatic or linear viewpoint, but immerses the reader in the very idea of its process. Imagine, if you can, being an English speaker opening a book about the Turkish language and finding part of the narrative itself written in understandable Turkish.

The book describes, in entertaining terms, the holism of homeopathy. This holism, not the mechanics of the practice or the effect of the remedies, is what sets homeopathy apart from ‘scientific’ or allopathic medicine. Homeopathy, as this book tells us, stretches like a live wire between the practitioner and her environment, the patient and her environment, the relationship between practitioner and patient and the onward journey in the life of both these parties…

With homeopathy presently under concerted attack from lobby groups and corporate scientists, it needs defenders, proselytizers and prophets. Like other professionals who have become embattled in the war for science and new technology, some leading homeopaths think that their salvation lies in an exacting scientific explanation of their craft. I personally don’t believe that this is a path to be taken with any urgency or at the exclusion of other more popular routes. In time the science of homeopathy will be discovered. In fact this process has already begun… Sue Lanzon’s book is one of the first to embark upon this promotion and the first to do this using a common, popular language of the people.

Martin J Walker.

Further Information

Available from Amazon and other retailers and distributors: www.emryss.com/   www.amazon.co.uk/Something-Water-Other-Tales-Homeopathy/dp/1874581800

 

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Ergonomic Schoolbag from BackCare Protects your Child’s Back

Concerned parents wondering what they can do to look after the health of their children’s backs will be pleased to know that BackCare have developed a new ergonomic schoolbag, in response to new research that shows young people are putting their backs at risk and suffering the repercussions.

Back pain is often thought of as an older person’s problem, but BackCare’s head of research, Dr Adam Al-Kashi, is keen to emphasise that this is not the case. “More than 120,000 of the 4 million children currently at secondary school in the UK will see a doctor about back pain before the age of 16. BackCare recommend that 11-16 year olds carry no more than 10% of their bodyweight, yet at least half of them will be asked to carry more.”[1]

A recent study in Spain assessed the back health of over 1,400 children aged between 12 and 17, and found that those carrying the heaviest bags had a 50% greater risk of back pain.[2] The burden placed on children’s’ backs is compounded by choosing unsuitable bags, and carrying bags over one shoulder due to social pressure.

The BackCare backpack is the best way to ensure that your child’s back stays healthy for the future. It features a patented curved underside to help spread the load of heavy textbooks, ergonomic carrying straps and a lightweight profiled back panel for improved ventilation. Half the battle of caring for children’s backs is education, so the bag also has maximum weight information and carrying advice printed internally.

Purchasing the BackCare bag is not only the best way to ensure your child follows this advice and preserves the health of their young back: the price of the bag includes a donation to BackCare. This enables them to carry out groundbreaking scientific research into the causes, prevention and management of back pain, and influence public policy, reducing the burden of back pain.

References

1. BackCare commissioned research from 2002.

2. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22408188

Further Information

More information about BackCare’s research into back health in school children can be found at www.backcare.org.uk  The backpack is priced at £25.99 and can be purchased from the BackCare website www.backcaretrading.org.uk/

 

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Britain Is Waking Up In Pain!

New research  carried out by bed expert, Adjustamatic, highlights just how poorly the nation is sleeping. The nationwide survey found 4 in 5 Brits wake up feeling less than refreshed, and a staggering 1 in 3 wake up experiencing pain.  No surprise then that a fifth of the nation sleeps with painkillers and sleeping tablets on their bedside table. [1]

The top culprits for keeping Brits awake at night are revealed to be:

1. Stress and tension;
2. Unable to get comfortable;
3. Restless and achy legs;
4. Back pain;
5. Coughing or breathing difficulties .

Our Sleep Environment

When it comes to our bedroom environment, aside from snoring partners, an uncomfortable mattress and too small a bed make for a poor quality sleeping environment. “Creating the correct sleeping environment can significantly improve the quality of sleep and our overall wellbeing,” explains sleep expert and physiotherapist Sammy Margo. “Waking up in pain is a common experience, yet people persist with the same old bed and same old painkillers. A good bed and a good mattress can significantly improve how well we sleep and reduce pain.”  

Sleep and Ageing

The older age group were also shown to be suffering in silence when it came to how well they sleep, with a third putting up with restless legs and back pain, and a quarter waking up feeling more tired than they did before going to bed. “Many people struggle for years with poor sleep when they needn’t have to” says sleep expert Sammy Margo. Women suffer more than men when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep, with women blaming stress and tension as a reason behind a disturbed nights sleep. However, although the quality of sleep is poorer for women, the research found men are much more likely to wake up with physical pain and experience night cramps, back ache, pins and needles and restless legs.

References

1. Research carried out by OnePoll for Adjustamatic in September 2012 on 1,000 respondents across the UK aged 18-55+.

Further Information

Cyclo-Therapy is a form of massage therapy medically shown to help relax the body and relieve pain and discomfort associated with back pain, restless legs, arthritic pain, poor circulation and breathing problems. For more sleep advice from Sammy Margo and Adjustamatic, visit www.sleepyourbest.co.uk 

Adjustamatic are the makers of quality adjustable orthopaedic beds clinically proven to offer pain relief for a variety of aches, pains and medical conditions. Adjustamatic are part of Niagara Healthcare Ltd and the only manufactures of Cyclo-Therapy beds in the UK. Adjustamatic’s Cyclo-Therapy beds are certified by the MHRA as a class 2a medical device. For more details visit, www.adjustablebeds.com 

 

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