Monday 30 January 2012

Accumulating 'microplastic' thread to shores

By Mark Kinver

Environment reporter, BBC News

Concentrations of microplastic were greatest near coastal urban areas, the study showed Continue reading the main story
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SAS Anniversary Beach Clean Tour
Plastic fibre a 'major pollutant'

Microscopic plastic debris from washing clothes is accumulating in the marine environment and could be entering the food chain, a study has warned.

Researchers traced the "microplastic" back to synthetic clothes, which released up to 1,900 tiny fibres per garment every time they were washed.

Earlier research showed plastic smaller than 1mm were being eaten by animals and getting into the food chain.

The findings appeared in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.

"Research we had done before... showed that when we looked at all the bits of plastic in the environment, about 80% was made up from smaller bits of plastic," said co-author Mark Browne, an ecologist now based at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

"This really led us to the idea of what sorts of plastic are there and where did they come from."

Dr Browne, a member of the US-based research network National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, said the tiny plastic was a concern because evidence showed that it was making its way into the food chain.

"Once the plastics had been eaten, it transferred from [the animals'] stomachs to their circulation system and actually accumulated in their cells," he told BBC News.

In order to identify how widespread the presence of microplastic was on shorelines, the team took samples from 18 beaches around the globe, including the UK, India and Singapore.

"We found that there was no sample from around the world that did not contain pieces of microplastic."

The smallest fibres could end up causing huge problems worldwide
Dr Browne added: "Most of the plastic seemed to be fibrous.

"When we looked at the different types of polymers we were finding, we were finding that polyester, acrylic and polyamides (nylon) were the major ones that we were finding."

The data also showed that the concentration of microplastic was greatest in areas near large urban centres.

In order to test the idea that sewerage discharges were the source of the plastic discharges, the team worked with a local authority in New South Wales, Australia.

"We found exactly the same proportion of plastics," Dr Browne revealed, which led the team to conclude that their suspicions had been correct.

As a result, Dr Browne his colleague Professor Richard Thompson from the University of Plymouth, UK carried out a number of experiments to see what fibres were contained in the water discharge from washing machines.

"We were quite surprised. Some polyester garments released more than 1,900 fibres per garment, per wash," Dr Browne observed.

"It may not sound like an awful lot, but if that is from a single item from a single wash, it shows how things can build up.

"It suggests to us that a large proportion of the fibres we were finding in the environment, in the strongest evidence yet, was derived from the sewerage as a consequence from washing clothes."

Thursday 26 January 2012

Immune tip no 5 - Use a neti pot when you have a cold

 One study found that a daily saltwater nasal rinse may be beneficial for colds. The participants who used saline nasal rinses (six times per day initially and TID during the rest of the 12-week study) had fewer nasal and throat symptoms, they were healthier, and fewer of them used medications to manage their symptoms than those who did not use the rinses. The nasal rinse was a standard 0.9% saline (sodium chloride) solution with trace elements and minerals in concentrations similar to those in seawater. (Sea Salt)

 Method:
Mix a pinch of salt and a pinch of bicarbonate of soda in about half a pint of warm water. Use a bulb syringe (a neti pot) to squirt water into the nose. Hold one nostril closed by applying light finger pressure while squirting the salt mixture into the other nostril. Let it drain. Repeat two to three times, then treat the other nostril.

Tuesday 24 January 2012

Hearts of Glass: Integrative Psychotherapeutic Approaches to Autism

A person with autism is first and foremost, a person. Their needs are no different to the rest of us, especially the need for “connection”, and yet it is exactly this “connection” that is so difficult to achieve through the mask of autism. The presentation of many children with autism is one that removes opportunities for connection – the connections that are so important for the development of a sense of self, and for the development of personality.

In my work in the UK, I see a number of people across the whole range of autism who have poor self-awareness, poor self-esteem and a very fragile personality. Whatever our view of the causes of autism, the effects are very clear, and it is these effects that can be worked through using various psychotherapeutic approaches.

Key Principles

A major clue to opening up pathways of working lies in acknowledging the autism and its effects. Autism is characterised by problems in communication, social understanding, flexibility of thought and sensory integration. These characteristics can create a perception and perspective on the world that is very different to that of other people. If we add a learning disability to the profile, then those perspectives and perceptions will be altered yet further. The core deficits within autism are bound to lead to high levels of social and emotional stress. Understanding these perspectives is vital to successful therapy.

A second clue to successful working is understanding that whilst a person’s autism may be a major feature of that person’s life, there are other things going on for that person as well, as they do for other people. We all operate within an environment; we all have individual personality traits; we all have a genetic inheritance of some sort; and we all have an experience of life. Each of these things affects who we are, and how we react to things. In autism, the impact of these things may be distorted, but that does not mean we should discount them.

Thirdly, a therapist should understand that autism affects those around the individual perhaps at least as much as it does the individual themselves. An awareness of projection, introjection, transference and counter-transference is vital in unravelling the sometimes complicated relationships that can develop around the individual. Understanding a little about group dynamics and disrupted functioning can also be useful.

Other factors

In the UK, and perhaps in other parts of the Western world, we have a very medical and behavioural view of autism. The reliance on a medical perspective risks ignoring emotional stress. A solely behavioural approach risks becoming stuck in “symptom management”. A combination of the medico-behavioural perspectives risks over-reliance on anti-psychotic medication. An integrative and holistic psychotherapeutic approach can help to avoid these risks, and lead to very real and lasting progress.

Another factor involved in poor outcomes and overall prognosis is negativity. A doctor might say to a parent, “I’m sorry, but your child has autism…” A mainstream school might view the autistic child as “a nuisance”. Peers might view the child as “strange” or “odd”. Poor social functioning might create isolation and loneliness. And thus the child may develop a poor self-esteem, low confidence and motivation. These things can then lead to anger, frustration, depression and anxiety as the child grows up. The good news is that these emotional elements are all treatable using psychotherapeutic approaches.

And if we use other language to describe some of the key autistic behaviours, we can see how psychotherapy can help there, too. For example, autistic behaviours are often listed like this:

• A need for “sameness” and routine
• Rituals and obsessions
• Withdrawal
• Physical control – everything in its place
• Physical control – aggression
• Hyperactivity (or is it hyper-reactivity?!)
• Anger

If we call them defensive or reactive behaviours instead, then we can see how psychotherapy aimed at easing social and emotional distress can reduce these, and other, behaviours.

Autism affects those around the individual in various ways. This is sometimes overt, as in the case of a parent who quickly becomes depressed and/or frustrated. Sometimes the effect is more subtle, where these things happen over a longer period of time. But sensitive psychotherapeutic approaches can also benefit everybody within the autistic person’s network. And if the network functions well, it can only be good for the individual at the centre of it.

Useful Approaches

It is essential to build rapport with the individual. This can be done by paying attention to interests and key behaviours. It might be easier to achieve with clients who have a greater intellectual capacity, but it can also be done with people with severe autism and co-morbid learning disabilities, even if they are non-verbal. An approach called “Intensive Interaction” has been developed to enable the forming of connections with severely disabled people. It requires us to “switch off” our natural communication systems, and to mirror key behaviours, thus showing acceptance to the individual. Whichever approach we use, rapport helps us to enter into the world of the autistic person.

We can use the rapport to build up a perspective of the individual’s life – the current situation, the history, and perhaps even the hopes and dreams that the individual has.

Other useful approaches will almost always involve relaxation methods, and the provision of alternatives to negative behaviour. Relaxation helps to lower general arousal levels. For other clients, their perception of the world leaves them under-stimulated. Here we can provide exercise programmes and sensory integration therapies.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is often cited as being useful in autistic spectrum conditions, especially for those with Asperger Syndrome. CBT seeks to alter behaviour through changing the way we think about things. Neuro-Linguistic Programming has also been shown to be helpful here. The risk, however, of using CBT by itself is that we can miss the underlying emotional distress, and in some cases it can risk making the situation worse. This is because some people on the autism spectrum display repetitive negative thought patterns (sometimes called ‘ruminative’ or ‘catastrophic’ thinking) – we need to make sure that CBT does not simply exacerbate these symptoms.

The use of creative approaches (music, drama, art, play, story-telling etc) is useful right across the range of disabilities in autism. Such approaches enable emotional expression where previously it was impossible.

“Life-story” work enables the client to re-frame their perspective on life. Many people with autism and depression fixate on negative events in their lives, and effective Life-Story work helps to reconstruct the pattern into a more positive format.

Hypnotherapeutic approaches can also be used. The therapist needs to be mindful of the need for clear informed consent before engaging in direct work of this nature. But there may be one or two hypnotherapeutic techniques which can be used in the course of other therapeutic interventions. We have already talked about the usefulness of relaxation techniques. It might also be possible to use story work to guide imagination towards more positive ends.

Where necessary, a major factor in achieving more positive outcomes is in the use of social skills interventions. If much of the stress and anxiety in autism has its root in social dysfunction, then helping to improve social performance will remove some of this stress.

Other useful approaches will involve anger management and conflict resolution techniques. Anger in autism usually comes from conflict, and conflict usually happens at the point of interaction. We can do a lot to avoid such conflict by improving our understanding of the autistic heart and mind. But sometimes conflict is inevitable, and management techniques will be vital. Providing positive alternatives to anger can be helpful – as long as we do not forget that anger is a natural human emotion, and we all have a right to express it. Suppression will often only lead to further problems.

Psychotherapy at a deeper level, is more difficult, but progress can be made towards improving self-esteem and self-value, as long as the therapist is sensitive to the defences that people build around themselves. Bruno Bettelheim published a book called “The Empty Fortress”. Perhaps this was a mistake – the autistic “fortress” is far from empty. It is very well defended, but it is full of life, vitality and potential. All we have to do is to find a way into the box, remaining sensitive to the reasons that the defences went up in the first place. Some of those reasons have been shown to be pathological, and could well be improved through medical treatment, or physiological interventions (for example, dietary approaches). Perhaps the real challenge is finding the courage to offer holistic and integrative approaches that encompass all these factors, whether emotional or physiological, thereby helping people with autism to become much more integrated, and far less isolated. And part of that challenge might be working towards altering the low value that society places on disability and those living and working with it.

David Moat
Transpersonal Psychotherapist and Hypnotherapist
Training and Advice Consultant, Autistic Spectrum Conditions

01223 315400 or 07734420997
[email protected]
www.asdtherapy.co.uk

Tuesday 17 January 2012

Competition Winners Announced!

We would like to thank everyone that has entered our competition by 'liking' us on Facebook, we have had a great response. The lucky winners are listed below and can choose from one of the following therapies:

Osteopathic consultation & treatment x 2
Swedish Massage
Stress management session
Become assertive session
EFT Session (Emotional Freedom Technique)
Reiki
Acupuncture consultation & treatment x 3
Homoeopathy consultation & treatment
Kinesiological testing for food intolerance's & nutritional deficiencies
Quit smoking hypnotherapy
Personalised nutrition and lifestyle consultation

You can choose which therapy you would like to experience but please be aware the prizes will be dealt out on a first come first serve basis so please give us a call between 9 - 7, Monday - Friday to claim your prize.

Make sure you keep your eyes peeled for more information on health, therapies & other competitions at The Therapy Room. http://thetherapyroomcambridge.blogspot.com/

If you have any questions that you would like to ask any of our therapists, they all offer free 15 min initial no obligation consultations. http://www.thetherapyroomcambridge.co.uk/index.html?page=index

Winners:

Susie Turner
Charlotte Franks
Euphrosene Marce-Louise Labern
Sue Bibby
Mandy Howson
Julie Wickenden
Deryn Gant
JenBert Turner
Jon Coe
Pam Trebilcock
Steve Craker
Linda McEnhill
Christine Martin
Bill Morgan

We look forward to hearing from you soon!

The Therapy Room
25 Oxford Road, Cambridge, CB4 3PH
01223 315400
www.thetherapyroom.com
[email protected]

Saturday 14 January 2012

Immune tip 4 - what to do when you have a cold

Drink plenty of fluids in order to maintain water balance and to thin mucous secretions.

Eat raw garlic, which has antibacterial and antiviral properties. Crush a clove or two and add to foods like soups and grains just before serving.
A warm, humid environment created by a humidifier may provide some comfort.

The key thing to remember is that the annoying symptoms of a cold are part of the natural healing process - evidence that the immune system is battling illness. For example, a fever is the body's way of trying to kill viruses in a hotter-than-normal environment. Also, the heat from the fever makes germ-killing proteins in the blood circulate more quickly and effectively. So a moderate fever for a day or two will actually speed up the recovery process.

 Coughing is another productive symptom as it prevents infected mucous from reaching the base of the lungs and creating secondary infections.

 Decongestants are generally not a good idea as they work by restricting the flow to the blood vessels in the nose and throat; but this in turn causes rebound congestion and stasis and more risk of secondary infection.

Tuesday 10 January 2012

Case Study: How Kinesiology can help with Anxiety

I’ve had a young boy who came to see me as he was so anxious before his kick boxing matches that he was sick every time.

Treatment: I let him think about last time it happened (which caused his muscles to weaken from the stress of that memory) and then I muscle tested what strengthened the weakened muscle. The treatment for him turned out to be a combination of:

· tapping messages around the temporal bone,
· pressing reflex points around solar plexus whilst holding emotional points on his forehead and
· acupressure points

I also showed him EFT so that he would have a tool to take home.

He later told me had a match a few days afterwards where he felt very confident and was not sick.

My treatments for anxiety are very individual depending on the client, but in most cases it involves using one or a few of the below techniques:

· sacro-cranial / dural membrane
· NEP – abdominal brain reflex points
· Solar plexus reflex points
· EFT
· Temporal tap
· Acupuncture points (for emotional work I prefer to hold the points with my fingers rather than using needles)

I also look at where in the body they store their anxiety (where they can feel it physically) to release the tension/block there, as wellas biochemical imbalances that can cause anxiety.

For more information please contact Maja Asell at The Therapy Room - 01223 315400

Thursday 5 January 2012

Boost your immunity tip 3 - The common cold

Typically symptoms of the common cold include:  sore throat, cough, sneezing, running nose, headache, fatigue, and a low-grade fever.  The symptoms of the common cold tend to last for around a week.
Since colds are caused by more than 100 different viruses, antibiotics are ineffective as a treatment although they are sometimes prescribed to treat secondary bacterial infections (bronchitis, pneumonia). 
Lifestyle Modification: 
Lifestyle habits that may support the immune system and speed recovery include the following:
Drink plenty of fluids in order to maintain water balance and to thin mucous secretions.
Eat raw garlic, which has antibacterial and antiviral properties. Crush a clove or two and add to foods like soups and grains just before serving.
A warm, humid environment created by a humidifier may provide some comfort.
The key thing to remember is that the annoying symptoms of a cold are part of the natural healing process - evidence that the immune system is battling illness. For example, a fever is the body's way of trying to kill viruses in a hotter-than-normal environment. Also, the heat from the fever makes germ-killing proteins in the blood circulate more quickly and effectively. So a moderate fever for a day or two will actually speed up the recovery process.
Coughing is another productive symptom as it prevents infected mucous from reaching the base of the lungs and creating secondary infections.

Decongestants are generally not a good idea as they work by restricting the flow to the blood vessels in the nose and throat; but this in turn causes rebound congestion and stasis and more risk of secondary infection.

Look out next week for what best to do if the cold already has hold of you!

For your chance to win 1 of 14 free treatments of total value of £800, simply press to 'like' our face book place page http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Therapy-Room/198293391331

Wednesday 4 January 2012

DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS?

DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS? Giving up smoking, weight
loss, learning to become more relaxed, want to work on having a healthier body
& mind or is just about time you dealt with that niggle in your back or
knee?

Well we are here to help! Not sure who to see? Call or email
us now to book your FREE initial consultation with one of our qualified
Integrated Practitioners.
01223 315400