Are you a sun lover or do you melt in the heat?

However you feel about the sun and heat it’s definitely arrived here in the UK!

In many ways it’s great. We benefit from longer daylight hours because we have the opportunity to produce more Vitamin D which is essential to our feeling of wellbeing. Try to get out in the sun early in the day with no sun cream on your skin to get maximum benefit. Be careful in the sun when it is very hot and protect yourself from burning.

Summer can also be hideous time for many people. Lots of people suffer from hayfever and there are many varied symptoms. Did you know that the same antihistamine does not work for everyone? There are a variety of different products; speak to your local pharmacist for advice on which is best for you.

Homeopathy is a great alternative to antihistamines because there is such a range of symptoms. It works on the basis of your individual symptoms. You might have runny (bland) eyes and a runny nose but the next person might have runny (burning) eyes and a sore throat. You would each be given a different remedy. Homeopathic treatment continues through the winter to get your immune system ready for the onslaught of pollen in the summer so each year your symptoms will become less and less.

We can easily become dehydrated in the weather we are currently experiencing. Very cold drinks are not as beneficial to you as you may imagine. If they are very cold our body tries to heat them up so you’re much better to have a drink that is only slightly cooler than your internal temperature. Another tip is to put a little bit of seasalt in your water to help you retain a bit more fluid.

There are many conditions that feel worse when we’re hot and tired. If you need some help or support give us a call or pop in for a chat.

It’s perhaps one of the lesser-known conditions that can flare up during and after pregnancy – but mother’s thumb can be uncomfortable at best, and painful at worst.

The condition, which goes by the medical name of De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, is caused by inflammation of the sheath that surrounds the two tendons that run between the wrist and the thumb. When aggravated, these tendons become thick and swollen, leading to pain that is made worse by pinching, grasping, or wringing movements.

Mother’s thumb is not exclusive to pregnant women – but ladies who are due to deliver or who have just given birth are much more susceptible to a strain in this area, as they will be using their hands more extensively whilst lifting, holding, and moving their baby. It’s also thought that the fluid retention caused by fluctuating hormone levels can contribute to the development of De Quervain’s syndrome.

In a similar way to De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by repetitive overuse – this time, of the wrist.

The carpal tunnel itself is the thin passageway of tendons, ligaments and bones that runs along the anterior portion of the wrist on each hand. When it becomes inflamed as a result of repetitive or overly strained hand movements, this pressure causes pain, numbness and tingling across the hand and up into the arm. Again, carpal tunnel syndrome is very prevalent in the later stages of pregnancy, whilst the body is holding onto much more water; the added swelling can begin to pinch the nerve, leading to the symptoms described above. It is exacerbated by bending the wrist at an acute angle, which compresses the nerves further, specially while you are breastfeeding or holding your little one.

How can mother’s wrist and thumb be treated?

De Quervain’s syndrome and carpal tunnel syndrome may be relatively common in pregnancy and beyond – but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer unnecessarily.

There are plenty of ways you can treat both conditions, either at home or with the help of a specialist Hand Therapist.

Treatment involves

-Splinting

-Resting

-Taping

-Activity Modification

Tailored exercise and strengthening programme for your hands and wrists.

If you have any hand or wrist problems make an appointment with our specialist Clare Corrans or speak to one of our receptionists.

So if you’re one of the 48 000 runners who took part in this year’s London marathon last Sunday, then congratulations!! What an incredible achievement! It’s not just about that one day either, but the months of cold and rainy runs that you put in through the winter to get you there.

So what now? Recovery is key.

Eat – think about good nutrition to aid muscle repair. Oily fish, legumes, pulses, nuts and seeds will help. There’s so much talk about anti inflammatory foods and their health benefits these days. Reaching for colourful foods like berries, dark chocolate and leafy green vegetables will help pack in those nutrient dense chemicals to help you restock.

Sleep – rest is key. You may need more sleep than normal. A couple of extra hours per night may be needed to help you repair those tired muscles. Think good sleep hygiene and turn off your phone at least an hour before bedtime. Try a warm bath to help you unwind. Essential oils or bath salts may aid your relaxation. Not a great sleeper? Did you know that the humble kiwi fruit can aid quicker, longer and better sleep? Various studies have shown their benefits in sleep promotion and quality.

Run – you’ve done that, so not yet but walk. Keep those legs turning over to help battle the dreaded stiffness.  You may soon feel ready to try a gentle cycle or swim. Yoga and gentle stretching are also helpful in getting your movement back, if you’re feeling like the tin man. Now is a good time to try a massage. If you’re keen to keep running, you can reverse taper up to a level of running you’d like to do regularly but if there’s no race in diary, take your time.

Replete – restock and restore. Check for injuries and seek help of a medical professional if you’re struggling. Foot care can be essential, your feet have taken you so far! Be kind to yourself. It’s common to feel low post race, what with all the build up, months of what can be lonely training culminating with one amazing day. Do something nice for yourself. Maybe meet up with friends, think of returning to some of the things you may have missed whilst training or formulate a new activity plan but most of all, show off that medal!!!

At The Complementary Health Centre in Hither Green we would love to talk to you if you’ve taken part in this year’s marathon to hear about your great achievement!

If you’d like to have a recovery plan devised just for you contact Kelly Harry, our amazing physiotherapist, for a consultation.

Not only is our Taster Evening at the Complementary Health Centre in Lee in just a few weeks, but everything on the evening is free! AND if you come in to see us you’ll receive a £5 voucher which you can redeem against any therapy or class until the end of May 2023!

We’re very excited getting ready to meet you and have a great line up for you:

In the studio we currently have Yoga and Tai Chi

In addition we have our lovely therapists available to talk to you work about how stress may be affecting your health. Perhaps you’ve had back pain, constipation, sleep problems, period pain, mobility problems, a sore back, aching hands, painful feet for a while. 

You may have even been to your GP. Sometimes conventional Western Medicine struggles to deal with some of these problems and Complementary Therapies can really help.

On 20th April we’ll have:

Osteopaths
Tui Na Practitioners
Massage Therapists
Physiotherapists
Homeopaths
Reiki

In addition we’re very excited to have Vicki, our client solutions manager,  available to speak to you if you’re not sure which therapy or combination of therapies would be most beneficial to you. She’ll be able to chat to you and put a plan together for you to work out a plan to get you feeling your best.

All you need to do is call Reception on 020 8297 8887 or pop in and speak to one of our lovely receptionists. Don’t delay and miss your spot. Our December event was fully booked!

photo credit Photo by Filip Baotic on Unsplash 

Our practitioners are seeing patients in person again but we still have measures in place to reduce the risk of Covid spread. All staff wear masks (and we ask that you do too, unless you’re exempt) and we’re continuing with our cleaning regime. We also have a short Covid questionnaire for you to complete each time you come into the practice.

Since the pandemic started our range of therapies has changed a bit. Now we’re offering osteopathy, physiotherapy, acupuncture, podiatry, talk therapy, reflexology, massage, tui na and Feldenkrais. We are always keen to expand our services, however, so keep an eye on our website for new developments.

Our classes are also back in the studio. We’re very pleased to announce that in addition to our Pilates and Tai Chi classes, our Daisy Birthing classes have resumed recently, and we’re offering three new Yoga classes.

Feature photo credit: Photo by Patrick Shaun on Unsplash

Good nutrition is so important for your health and wellbeing. Especially so during this period of lockdown due to Covid-19

Here’s a Vitamin C tip sheet for you, from Theresa Webb, CHC Nutritional Therapist

Including vitamin C rich foods:

• -Strengthens our immune response and keeps us healthy

Natural food sources of Vitamin C are: 

• – Fresh fruit –  lime, lemon, strawberry & goji berries have highest levels
• – Most vegetables including broccoli, parsley & kale

Whole fruit contains soluble fibre, for colon cleansing. Nutrient uptake is more efficient in refreshing mixed juices.

Tip: 

• – Try a balance of carrot, celery, apple, lemon, + add spinach & root turmeric to taste. 
• – A single glass serving provides beta carotene (vitamin A), potassium, sodium, & sufficient vitamin C to support you through the day. 
• – Remember, uncooked fruit & vegetables remain full of Antioxidants. 

Theresa is available for video and telephone consultations Monday-Friday.

Email us at info@chc-lee.co.uk to book an appointment.

#nutrition #stayhealthy #nutritionaltherapy #healthandwellbeing

18th April 2020

Fancy finding out more about mindfulness? Want to discover some mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques that can be used during a busy day? Then come along to the free 1 hour taster session at the Complementary Health Centre at 6.30pm on Wednesday the 11th September. 
You will learn a little about what mindfulness is and the benefits. 
Hayley, the qualified practitioner, will also introduce you to informal ways to practice mindfulness during your day and will also have an opportunity to try some short guided formal mindfulness practices too. Please book your place via the Complementary Health Centre reception as places are limited.

We have all heard about the overuse and increased resistance of antibiotics in the news over the last few years. Can homeopathy help as an alternative in some cases?
In the words of our homeopathy specialist Maureen Chapple, Homeopathy might not be the complete solution, but can it help reduce the overuse of antibiotics in some cases?

Tui Na (pronounced “Twee Na”) is a form of therapeutic massage, rooted in Taoist principles and is one of the branches of Chinese medicine. This hands-on therapy focusses on your posture, alignment and movement with a range of techniques used to help bring your body back into balance.

Techniques work on soft tissue, muscles and joints and may involve joint manipulation and acupressure or use of cloths and dowels. The treatments can be invigorating or calming, subtle or firm and help to get the blood and energy moving.

Well-known for its effectiveness in treating musculo-skeletal conditions such as arthritis, sciatica, sports related injuries and chronic pain, Tui Na may also be effective for other problems such as headaches, sleep difficulties, and stress amongst others. It can also be effective in maintaining and enhancing flexibility and mobility and promoting health and wellbeing.

Tui Na Treatment can be applied over loose clothing and there is no requirement to undress although some techniques may be applied directly to the skin.

To find out more about Tui Na Therapy or about our Tui Na Therapists please visit our Therapies and Practitioner pages.

For more information and to book:

Call CHC now on 020 8297 8887 or email us at info@chc-lee.co.uk

*NEW-  IYENGAR YOGA CLASS starting at CHC*

Every Wednesday evening 7pm – 8.15pm from 26th September – with Nicky Lowe

This is a General and Beginners class. 

You can find out more about Iyengar Yoga at https://iyengaryoga.org.uk/iyengar-yoga/frequently-asked-questions/ :

Iyengar Yoga is firmly based in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, an Indian sage who lived about 1700 years ago. The Yoga Sutras guide the yoga practitioner towards peace of mind and harmony and ultimately to bliss (Samadhi).

Iyengar yoga is characterised by precision and alignment in the execution of the postures (asanas), sequencing of the asanas towards a desired result,timing in the length of time the asanas are held for maximum benefit, and the use of props if required to help a student gain the maximum benefit from each asana.

Iyengar yoga concentrates on postural alignment and body awareness. This is not just for the alignment of one body part with another, but also for the proper functioning of the human being. If the body is aligned with precision then the breath is aligned with the same precision. If the breath is balanced then the mind, emotions and senses become balanced.

With regular guided practice, effects of Iyengar Yoga can include a general feeling of physical health and psychological and mental well-being.

We are pleased to announce A TRIO OF SUMMER VOCAL WORKSHOPS beginning Saturday 9th June 3-5pm.

These workshops will explore singing and listening.

Singing enhances our quality of life and generates calm, energy, expression, presence, inner awareness, stress relief and increased physical and emotional health. Tune into your voice and gain access to vocal control to develop a healthy and joyful relationship with singing.

Small group work led by vocalist Portia Winters (BA (Hons) Music, MMus, MISM, Estill) with 18years experience singing, writing, and performing and 9years teaching and mentoring.Open to all adults, both with and without previous singing experience.

3–5pm: 9th June, 14th July, 4th August
£20 per session/£55 for all three – advance booking advised.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  We hope you all had a great festive break! Here’s to a Happy and Healthy 2018!

Kick start YOUR HEALTH AND WELLBEING plan this year and beat the January blues! 

SIGN-UP to one of our NEW Beginners Pilates and Yoga classes! 

*YOGA with Anna Tuesdays: 1.15 – 2.30pm

*PILATES with Samantha Wednesdays: 6.45 -8pm

*Headspace YOGA with Allison Wednesdays: 8.15 – 9pm

CALL reception now to Book your place !

MERRY CHRISTMAS 🎄and a
HAPPY and HEALTHY NEW YEAR 🎉 to you all, from Team CHC Lee!

A Huge Thank-You to our patients and students for making this year so special!

Your Health and Wellbeing are always at the heart of what we do at CHC and the focus of all our 2017 developments.

We are proud to have further built on the high standards and quality of professional holistic Complementary Care that CHC is renowned for, and given back to the local Community !

We are OPEN :

23rd Dec
27th – 30th Dec

-Please call the Practice if you would like to book treatments in for this period.
-Opening hours may vary.

2nd January – normal working hours resume

We look forward to seeing you all in 2018 !

Best wishes from all of us at

www.chc-lee.co.uk
@HealthCHC

020 82978887
info@chc-lee.co.uk

We are now Officially in Movember !

At chc-lee.co.uk we are Dedicating This MONTH to MEN’S HEALTH in support of the Movember Foundation !

We have upto 20% OFF all Therapies and discounts on classes throughout Movember for All Men who are either:  *New to CHC, or *New to a different Therapy at CHC.

We are posting tips and info, for Men, on physical and mental health issues, and Complementary Health Care. Please share!  Spread the word!  Tell your men folk!

We want to help make a difference for Men’s Health and Lives.

We want to help

STOP MEN DYING

TOO YOUNG

Men are facing a health crisis that isn’t being talked about. They are dying too young, before their time. We’re taking action and we need your help.

Knowledge is Power. The Moustache is King!

https://uk.movember.com/