Mailer 02

Thank you so much to everyone who sponsored Simon in the Firewalk for the Hospice of Saint Francis - including

jackie gilbert	23/11/2007	well done simon!!
Chris Roper	23/11/2007
Tony and Lizzi	23/11/2007	Well done Simon!
Martyn Reuben	22/11/2007	Just remember, don't look down, say 'cool moss' and if all else fails carry some ice with you.
Moira Bishop	21/11/2007	What fun!
Massimo	21/11/2007	Well Done. Don't forget a bucket of ice cubes for later
andrew	21/11/2007
Gitte Mikkelsen	21/11/2007	No thinking and no hesitation, but are you sure this is proprioceptively correct?

Gill Chapman	20/11/2007	Good Luck Simon - I think abseiling would have been less crazy!
Us all at brickwood design	20/11/2007
Danny P	20/11/2007
Hanne Grice	20/11/2007	Good lucxk with the firewalk - keep a bucket of ice on standby!
Jane and Andrew	20/11/2007	Hotfoot it safely back to the surgery!
Big Stick	20/11/2007	make sure you turn up...don't get cold feet!
Peter Donn	20/11/2007	Good job Simon..!
Erica Marks	20/11/2007	Glad to see you doing something insane!!
Steve Peet	19/11/2007	good luck

and everyone else who donated in the clinic.

With your help we raised the astounding sum of £615 for the hospice.

Firewalking comments:

Many people were intrigued by the firewalk, I thought I should explain.

Firewalking is many things to many people but it is mainly about fear. The burning coals stand as an obstacle for us to overcome. We have to fight the little voice that says "you're mad, that's not possible" and just do it.

The theory goes, that if you can control and conquer your fear enough to get across the firewalk, you can do it in other areas of your life. You know, if I can do this, what else can I do?

So firewalking is about life skills and mastering fear.

Actually, in this event, the mud and wet grass meant most of us (about 100 people walked) were glad of the extra warmth. Add to that the fact that coals are very good convectors of heat but very poor conductors and there was very little chance of getting burned, although, like I said, that possibility does exist and became a reality 7 years ago when I did a 40 foot firewalk in Hawaii with horrible consequences. There was a reason I stormed across those coals! It wasn't going to get me again.

If anyone is intrigued enough to want to join me next year, please drop me an email and I will get back to you closer to the time. The hospice is keen to work with Naturality as a key partner next year if we can get enough people involved.

Speaking of feet ....

"I had a bad left foot for about 3 years which then triggered the left side of my back to hurt. I finally gave in and went to my doctor who explained what the problem was and recommend an operation on my back as I had two trapped nerves. I then thought there has got to be another way as I really didn't want to be operated on.

A work colleague told me about Simon King at Naturality and I thought I would try anything as the pain was getting bad. I had my first meeting with Simon and he confirmed what my doctor had said but his solution was completely different. Simon said that the problem started with one of the fillings in my mouth and told me I should go back to my dentist and have a metal filling out and a white one put in. I was really skeptical but I thought I'd try anything. Everyone around me was really interested and wanted to know the outcome, so off I went to my dentist and had the filling changed to a white one. I couldn't believe how quick the outcome was. Within 10 mins of the dentist, my foot didn't hurt (yes I'm still in shock). I came back into work the next day and everyone wanted to know if it did and the answer is yes. I still think if it hadn't happened to me I would never have believed it.

My work colleagues are total fascinated. I have had some that still don't belive me and ask every day "does it hurt?" To which I can say with hand on heart, "No, it doesn't." Something as easy as having a filling changed has changed my life. I even went to New York and walked for miles without any pain.

I would like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for your very good advice.

From the lady with no pain in her left foot"

Mini, Berkhamsted

Funny, we're back to our original topic - FEAR.

Mini had to overcome lots of fears to be able to get better. She had to overcome the fear of wasting her money, visiting the dentist, ridicule of family, friends and work colleagues - but she did it anyway. She didn't need the metafor of the hot coals, her motivation came from a desire to do whatever it takes to get better.

Christmas Blog from Janie

Its nearly upon us once again, the festive season. For most its a busy time with extra pressure alongside of our modern lives. How are we to cope the extra mental pressure and physical demands that we will endure? I have a few handy hints to keep us in tip top condition over the next few weeks

Keeping bright and breezy - your feel-good foods are those that contain plenty of B Vitamins. They keep your energy levels up, help you cope with stress, both physical and mental, and keep you from feeling 'overwhelmed'. The B complex of vitamins provide energy by aiding the conversion of carbohydrates to glucose, which in turn the body 'burns' to produce energy. They are also vital in the metabolism of fats and protein. Your power house vitamins. B vitamins are essential for the maintenance of muscle tone in the gastro -intestinal tract and for the health of your skin, hair, eyes, mouth and liver, B6 especially help maintain the health of lymphoid organs (thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes) that make your white blood cells. B₆ deficiency can decrease your antibody production and suppress your immune response.

B vitamins are water soluble, meaning that any excess is not stored, therefore a daily source is needed. Food sources are whole grains, brown rice, eggs, green leafy vegetables, meats, animal livers and kidneys, legumes, shell fish, miso and other fermented soy products.

Another natural winter mood-booster is an amino acid called L-tryptophan, which is a precursor to serotonin that is found in foods as diverse as roasted pumpkin seeds, baked potatoes with their skins on and a seaweed called kelp. To make serotonin, the body also needs a good supply of B6 which is found in carrots, fish, lentils, peas, potato, spinach and sunflower seeds

However, if you feel you need a boost, I recommend Super B extra from Cytoplan. A high B multivitamin and mineral , it also includes magnesium, to help you relax and revive and all important chromium for that over indulgence in sugars. Take about 3- 4 tablets a day.

Keep moving. You may not feel like it on a cold grey day, but it is worth getting wrapped up and taking yourself out for a walk. Exercise relaxes tense muscles and helps you to sleep. It causes the release of chemicals called endorphins into your bloodstream, making you feel relaxed and happy. The beauty of physical activity is that little bits add up to big benefits. Try adding activity into each day little by little. Unsure where to start? Keep it simple. For instance, carry your groceries into the house one bag at a time. Take a peak at the different classes available in your area, whether its ballroom dancing, horse riding or even a local singing group. A client of the centre recommends Yvonne Brenner, Wednesday Evenings at the Quaker meeting house in Berkhmsted, 01442 863493. Go on, find your voice.

The benefits of Sunlight http://www.whatreallyworks.co.uk/start/articles.asp?article_ID=451

UK in winter, what chance have we of sunbathing? If you were thinking about taking a winter holiday, then go on and get it booked, but remember not to smother yourself in harsh chemicals. Sunbath wisely and use one of the many safe non toxic sun creams available at front desk or from your local health food store.

Laughter, the best medicine. Increases blood flow, lowers blood sugar levels, increases immune response by decreases stress levels in the body, so go on watch that funny movie, book those pantomime tickets laugh at yourself once in a while too. Life can be all so serious. If you need someone to talk to outside of your circle of friends and family, the Naturality team of counsellors are ideal. You can talk in a safe and confidential environment, begin the journey to a new outlook.

Take the time. Find time for yourself. Its not easy, we have work commitments, family and possibly animals to take care of. But what happens if you get ill, you need to take care of yourself first, so you can take care of others. There's your excuse, book yourself in with one of our many health care practitioners here. We are all here to help you with your journey to Great Health!

I would really value your help in a research project I am running to find out whether the extraction of teeth affects muscle strength.

I realise this might sound crazy, but it's not. Tiny sensors in our teeth are directly connected to the sensory areas of our brain which drive the motor areas, so if teeth are removed, maybe we are not as strong as we were.

Anyway, to find out I launched this research project on Youtube. All you have to do is attempt one simple exercise.. .

If you can't see the video, please click here

Please have a go at this exercise and leave your results at www.recordyourresult.com

Why not get everyone at work to try it and send a link to all your friends and family? It's so rare to find anyone who can actually do it, we need lots of people to try.

As winter approaches, the festive season begins. We will be partying and many of us will over-indulge in both food and drink. As we all know, overeating can cause stomach upsets, and too much alcohol causes acidity and gastritis.

There are many alternative remedies available for such discomforts.

Overeating causes indigestion, and the homeopathic remedies Antim Crud 30, Nux Vomica 30 and Carbo Veg 30 can help.

In food poisoning Ars Alb 30 may be useful.

Too much alcohol causes acidity and can be relieved by Argentum Nitricum 30 or Robinia 30 and, if it is accompanied by flatulence, Carbo. Veg 30 can help.

Winter also brings respiratory problems like coughs and colds. The best way to prevent these is to keep warm, and eat lots of green vegetables and fruits. Again, homeopathic medication can help. Aconite Nap 30 will be useful for a dry, hoarse, croupy cough. For a dry hacking cough, try Amm Carb 30 and for a dry, barking cough, Spongia Tosta 30. Coughs with a runny nose and watery eyes can be treated by Allium Cepa 30.

I hope you all enjoy the festive season. Bear in mind that if the suggested remedies do not bring relief, and if the illness is severe, then professional medical help must be sought immediately.

Dr Hrisikesh Contractor, Dip.Homeopathy[UK], Fellow of the British Institute of Homeopathy. M.B.,B.S.,F.C.P.S.

                            8.30am - 2pm
Christmas Day                                                      Closed
Boxing Day                                                          Closed
Thursday 27th December                                       Closed
Friday 28th December                                            Closed
Saturday 29th December                                     Closed
Sunday 30th December                                      Closed
Monday 31st December                                         Closed
Tuesday 1st January 2008                                   Closed
Wednesday 2nd January                                      9am - 3pm
Thursday 3rd January                                           9am - 6pm
Friday 4th January                                          regular front desk hours resume

The Telephone will be diverted over Christmas, so anyone in need of emergency care please phone the clinic number 01442 800400 and you will either get hold of someone or we will ring you back asap.