Lauren Pinning down facts Bravo about acupuncture View in The Worthing Herald.pdf · Acupuncture...
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10 Herald and Gazette,Thursday, March 8, 2012 www.worthingherald.co.uk, shorehamherald.co.uk, littlehamptongazette.co.uk News Follow us on Twitter @ worthing_herald The world of Lauren Bravo IF you’re reading this on Thursday – hurrah! It’s International Women’s Day! Are you wearing your I Love Ladies t-shirt and tooting your party blower? Have you turned to the nearest woman and told them they’re incredibly wise/their fringe looks great/they’ve brightened your day through the power of pheromones alone? No? Well do it. Then try these: Eight Empowering Things to Do Today: 1. Get yourself a copy of The Sun* and some felt tips, and spend half an hour fashioning a lovely outfit for the Page Three girl. Give her some supportive underwear, then a nice warm jumper and a directional hairdo and some wellies. Maybe a lab coat. Go crazy. 2. Watch a film full of brilliant women, that doesn’t feature Katherine Heigel or a make-over montage. For example: Little Women, where you can whoop enthusiastically at everything Marmee says (“I will not have my girls being silly about boys” WOOP YEAH HOLLERRR) and be inspired by hair-cutting, novel-writing proto feminist Jo, or Steel Magnolias, a film so brimming over with female spirit that Dolly Parton’s the friendly neighbourhood hairdresser. 3. Make yourself an organic facemask using mashed banana and honey, then spread it on a crumpet and eat it instead. Repeat until full. 4. Burn something. You could go old school with a bra if you fancy (pick the scratchy lace one that digs in under the arms, and was clearly engineered by a sadist) or choose anything else debilitating from your wardrobe. Heels that make you do a knock-kneed Bambi walk; boned cocktail dress that you have to unzip in the toilet at hourly intervals so you can get some oxygen back to your extremities; anything that has ever drawn blood. Make a lovely bonfire (complying with local council regulations) then dance round it singing “down the patriarchy” to the tune of your choice. 5. Phone your mum and ask her to describe your birth in vivid detail, then gasp, sigh and applaud during each bit as appropriate. If you’re face-to-face, throw flowers at her feet and shout “Bravo!” (This is more appropriate for my own mother, of course, but it works on a lesser level for yours). 6. Visit the magazine aisle in WHSmith and cover each copy of Cosmoplitan, Glamour, Grazia or Heat with a copy of National Geographic. 7. Compliment an older lady on her elegant, age-appropriate crow’s feet, and follow it up with “D’you know, there’s something of the Helen Mirren about you today?” 8. Find a Davison girl and tell her that despite the long skirt, comedy hat and no knowledge of the opposite gender beyond a sporadic whiff of Lynx on the 15.40 train, it’ll all be ok. Because those girls she sits around guffawing with at lunchtime? She’ll probably be friends with them forever. *Don’t buy it, of course – appropriate one on the bus or something. IT is a therapy which has been practised for more than 3,000 years, and is widely considered to be beneficial for a range of illnesses and symptoms. However, there are still many misconceptions about the practice of acupuncture, says Worthing acupuncturist Sarah Cooper- Olsen. This month saw the first Acupuncture Awareness Week, organised by the British Acupuncture Council, which sought to combat the stigma which sometimes follows the centuries- old Chinese therapy. Sarah, who works at Park View Clinic in Chesswood Road, is also a member of the British AcupunctureCouncil.Shesaid:“2.3 million acupuncture treatments are carried out each year by traditional acupuncturists and the figure is rising, yet research shows myths surrounding the therapy still remain strong. “Acupuncture Awareness Week aims to banish the myths and provide all the answers for those people who want to try acupuncture.” Acupuncture originated in China, where it still features in mainstream healthcare today. It is thought to have started with the discovery that by stimulating specific areas on the skin, it can affect the function of certain organs in the body. Traditional Chinese acupuncture works on the body’s motivated energy, known as Qi, which flows through the body in channels called meridians. Along these meridians lie 600 acupuncture points, on which acupuncturists can place needles to stimulate someone’s Qi. In doing so, it is believed that person’s Qi is re-balanced, restoring health. Sarah said the most common misconception is acupuncture needles are as big as sewing needles or needles used for injections. “Acupuncture needles are actually no bigger than a human hair,” she said. “We use sterile, disposable needles and they are not painful – often they just produce a tingling sensation or a dull ache after they have been inserted. The risk of adverse reaction is actually less than one in 10,000.” Sarah knows the benefits of acupuncture herself, after first trying acupuncture to relieve her back pain. She said: “I was working as a registered nurse, but my back meant I couldn’t do my job any more. I tried all types of treatment, and eventually turned to acupuncture as a last resort. After a course of acupuncture, my back pain had not only improved, but I felt so much better within myself, I had far more energy. “I started looking into the theory behind acupuncture and I just found it so interesting. So I trained in London for three years in 1989, set up my own clinic in 1992, and never looked back.” Sarah said her patients come to her with a range of problems, including arthritis, asthma, bowel issues, migraine, depression, anxiety and many more. “A lot of people see acupuncture as voodoo medicine,” she said, “but it can really help people manage a lot of conditions. “The most rewarding cases are those who have infertility or gynaecological problems, because you can see the results. It’s so lovely when mums bring in their babies to show me a couple of months down the line, and they are always so grateful they just gave acupuncture a go.” New mum Jenny Collins, 36, used acupuncture to help her have a baby after she and her husband Mark were having difficulties conceiving. She said: “I used acupuncture to prepare my body for pregnancy and to help me through the pregnancy itself. I had tried reflexology and while it really relaxed me, I didn’t find it improved my well-being. Acupuncture was sort of a last resort, and even though I was a bit nervous the first time, it really did work for me.” Jenny and Mark, who live in Grove Road, Worthing, now have a healthy baby boy called William, who is 14 weeks old. Jenny said: “I found the acupuncture really helped my nausea and just gave me more energy. Whenever I was feeling sick and went for an acupuncture session, it would clear it up completely. I think it helps because you regain some control, and it just makes you feel good in yourself. I would definitely recommend it to anybody.” Pinning down facts about acupuncture I HAVE heard several stories about acupuncture – some good, some bad – but have never had the opportunity to try it myself. So when Sarah invited me for a trial session at her clinic, curiosity got the better of me. I do not have a phobia of needles, but I had to say I was slightly nervous turning up for my appointment. Sarah began with a full health consultation, and explained to me about what she was going to do, which worked to put my nerves at rest – especially when she compared an acupuncture needle with an injection needle, with the former seeming positively minute in comparison. Sarah started by looking at my tongue – in Chinese medicine, the tongue is a good indicator of a person’s well-being – and felt my pulse on my wrist in six different places, to determine which areas needed re-balancing. I was told my body was showing signs of stress and having low energy levels, but this could be quickly remedied by using only four needles for 10 minutes. When Sarah was inserting each needle, I was told to take a deep breath in and out, during which time she quickly tapped the needle into place. All I could feel was the outer casing hitting my skin, I could barely feel the needles themselves at all. After all four needles were in place – one in each hand and foot – I was told to sit back and relax. At each needle point I could feel a dull ache, which was gently renewed by a small twiddle of the needle Sarah made every now and again. During the 10-minute session, I could really feel myself relaxing, a sensation which continued until way after my treatment. After the needles were painlessly removed, I left feeling relaxed but invigorated – an odd but pleasing sensation. For the rest of the day I continued to feel the benefits of my treatment, and I can understand why people go back for more. I certainly would not rule out a second visit. Reporter Catrin Shi went along to try the treatment for herself... Catrin with Sarah Cooper-Olsen n by Catrin Shi [email protected] Jenny Collins with baby William The tiny needles in position on the patient’s hands
Transcript of Lauren Pinning down facts Bravo about acupuncture View in The Worthing Herald.pdf · Acupuncture...
10 Herald and Gazette,Thursday, March 8, 2012 www.worthingherald.co.uk, shorehamherald.co.uk, littlehamptongazette.co.uk
News Follow us on Twitter
@
worthing_herald
The world of
Lauren
Bravo
IF you’re reading thison Thursday – hurrah!It’s InternationalWomen’s Day! Are youwearing your I LoveLadies t-shirt andtooting your partyblower? Have youturned to the nearestwoman and told themthey’re incredibly wise/theirfringe looks great/they’vebrightened your day throughthe power of pheromonesalone? No? Well do it. Thentry these:
Eight Empowering Thingsto Do Today:
1. Get yourself a copy ofThe Sun* and some felt tips, andspend half an hour fashioning a lovelyoutfit for the Page Three girl. Give hersome supportive underwear, then a nicewarm jumper and a directional hairdo andsome wellies. Maybe a lab coat. Go crazy.
2. Watch a film full of brilliant women,that doesn’t feature Katherine Heigelor a make-over montage. For example:Little Women, where you can whoopenthusiastically at everything Marmeesays (“I will not have my girls being sillyabout boys” WOOP YEAH HOLLERRR) andbe inspired by hair-cutting, novel-writingproto feminist Jo, or Steel Magnolias,a film so brimming over with femalespirit that Dolly Parton’s the friendlyneighbourhood hairdresser.
3. Make yourself an organic facemaskusing mashed banana and honey, thenspread it on a crumpet and eat it instead.Repeat until full.
4. Burn something. You could go oldschool with a bra if you fancy (pick thescratchy lace one that digs in under thearms, and was clearly engineered by asadist) or choose anything else debilitatingfrom your wardrobe. Heels that makeyou do a knock-kneed Bambi walk; bonedcocktail dress that you have to unzip inthe toilet at hourly intervals so you canget some oxygen back to your extremities;anything that has ever drawn blood. Makea lovely bonfire (complying with localcouncil regulations) then dance round itsinging “down the patriarchy” to the tuneof your choice.
5. Phone your mum and ask her todescribe your birth in vivid detail, thengasp, sigh and applaud during each bit asappropriate. If you’re face-to-face, throwflowers at her feet and shout “Bravo!”(This is more appropriate for my ownmother, of course, but it works on a lesserlevel for yours).
6. Visit the magazine aisle in WHSmithand cover each copy of Cosmoplitan,Glamour, Grazia or Heat with a copy ofNational Geographic.
7. Compliment an older lady on herelegant, age-appropriate crow’s feet, andfollow it up with “D’you know, there’ssomething of the Helen Mirren about youtoday?”
8. Find a Davison girl and tell her thatdespite the long skirt, comedy hat andno knowledge of the opposite genderbeyond a sporadic whiff of Lynx on the15.40 train, it’ll all be ok. Because thosegirls she sits around guffawing with atlunchtime? She’ll probably be friends withthem forever.
*Don’t buy it, of course – appropriateone on the bus or something.
IT is a therapy which has been
practised for more than 3,000
years, and is widely considered
to be beneficial for a range of
illnesses and symptoms.
However, there are still manymisconceptions about the practiceof acupuncture, says Worthingacupuncturist Sarah Cooper-Olsen.
This month saw the firstAcupuncture AwarenessWeek, organised by the BritishAcupuncture Council, whichsought to combat the stigma whichsometimes follows the centuries-old Chinese therapy.
Sarah, who works at ParkView Clinic in Chesswood Road,is also a member of the BritishAcupunctureCouncil.Shesaid:“2.3million acupuncture treatmentsare carried out each year bytraditional acupuncturists and thefigure is rising, yet research showsmyths surrounding the therapystill remain strong.
“Acupuncture AwarenessWeek aims to banish the mythsand provide all the answers forthose people who want to tryacupuncture.”
Acupuncture originated inChina, where it still features inmainstream healthcare today. Itis thought to have started withthe discovery that by stimulatingspecific areas on the skin, it canaffect the function of certainorgans in the body.
Traditional Chineseacupuncture works on the body’smotivated energy, known as Qi,which flows through the bodyin channels called meridians.
Along these meridians lie 600acupuncture points, on whichacupuncturists can place needlesto stimulate someone’s Qi. In doingso, it is believed that person’s Qi isre-balanced, restoring health.
Sarah said the most commonmisconception is acupunctureneedles are as big as sewing needlesor needles used for injections.
“Acupuncture needles areactually no bigger than a humanhair,” she said. “We use sterile,disposable needles and they are notpainful – often they just produce atingling sensation or a dull acheafter they have been inserted. Therisk of adverse reaction is actuallyless than one in 10,000.”
Sarah knows the benefits ofacupuncture herself, after firsttrying acupuncture to relieve herback pain.
She said: “I was working as aregistered nurse, but my backmeant I couldn’t do my jobany more. I tried all types oftreatment, and eventually turnedto acupuncture as a last resort.After a course of acupuncture, myback pain had not only improved,but I felt so much better withinmyself, I had far more energy.
“I started looking into thetheory behind acupuncture andI just found it so interesting. So Itrained in London for three yearsin 1989, set up my own clinic in1992, and never looked back.”
Sarah said her patients cometo her with a range of problems,including arthritis, asthma, bowelissues, migraine, depression,anxiety and many more.
“A lot of people see acupunctureas voodoo medicine,” she said, “butit can really help people manage alot of conditions.
“The most rewarding casesare those who have infertility orgynaecological problems, becauseyou can see the results. It’s solovely when mums bring in theirbabies to show me a couple ofmonths down the line, and theyare always so grateful they justgave acupuncture a go.”
New mum Jenny Collins, 36,used acupuncture to help her havea baby after she and her husbandMark were having difficultiesconceiving.
She said: “I used acupuncture topreparemybodyforpregnancyandto help me through the pregnancyitself. I had tried reflexology andwhile it really relaxed me, I didn’tfind it improved my well-being.Acupuncture was sort of a lastresort, and even though I was a bitnervous the first time, it really didwork for me.”
Jenny and Mark, who live inGrove Road, Worthing, now havea healthy baby boy called William,who is 14 weeks old.
Jenny said: “I found theacupuncture really helped mynausea and just gave me moreenergy. Whenever I was feelingsick and went for an acupuncturesession, it would clear it upcompletely. I think it helps becauseyou regain some control, and it justmakes you feel good in yourself. Iwould definitely recommend it toanybody.”
Pinning down facts
about acupuncture
I HAVE heard several storiesabout acupuncture – somegood, some bad – but havenever had the opportunity totry it myself. So when Sarahinvited me for a trial sessionat her clinic, curiosity got thebetter of me.
I do not have a phobia ofneedles, but I had to say I wasslightly nervous turning up formy appointment.
Sarah began with a fullhealth consultation, andexplained to me about whatshe was going to do, whichworked to put my nerves atrest – especially when shecompared an acupunctureneedle with an injectionneedle, with the formerseeming positively minute incomparison.
Sarah started by lookingat my tongue – in Chinesemedicine, the tongue is agood indicator of a person’swell-being – and felt my pulseon my wrist in six differentplaces, to determine whichareas needed re-balancing.
I was told my body wasshowing signs of stress andhaving low energy levels, butthis could be quickly remediedby using only four needles for10 minutes. When Sarah wasinserting each needle, I wastold to take a deep breath inand out, during which time shequickly tapped the needle intoplace. All I could feel was theouter casing hitting my skin,I could barely feel the needlesthemselves at all.
After all four needles were
in place – one in each hand andfoot – I was told to sit back andrelax. At each needle point Icould feel a dull ache, whichwas gently renewed by a smalltwiddle of the needle Sarahmade every now and again.
During the 10-minutesession, I could really feelmyself relaxing, a sensationwhich continued until wayafter my treatment. Afterthe needles were painlesslyremoved, I left feeling relaxedbut invigorated – an odd butpleasing sensation.
For the rest of the day Icontinued to feel the benefitsof my treatment, and I canunderstand why people goback for more. I certainlywould not rule out a secondvisit.
Reporter Catrin Shi went along to try the treatment for herself...
Catrin with Sarah Cooper-Olsen
n by Catrin Shi
Jenny Collins with baby William
The tiny needles in position onthe patient’s hands
