I’m looking forward to welcoming you (by appointment only) to
Aura Homoeopathy Clinic
at The Wellness Hub, Caerphilly Miners Centre
St Martin’s Road, Caerphilly, CF83 2WW
Tuesday 8.30am – 7.00pm from 12 September 2023.
Homoeopathy is a complementary system of medicine which involves treating the individual with highly diluted substances, mainly in tablet form, derived from plants, minerals, animals and other naturally occuring substances. The aim of this treatment is to trigger the body’s own natural system of healing.
If this is your first time attending a homoeopathic consult, you can learn more about what to expect from a consult.
Did any of you watch the ‘Sex, Myths & Menopause‘ documentary presented by Davina McCall on Channel 4 last night? #davinamenopause
In my mind it was a very open and informative look at peri-menopause, menopause and beyond. Certainly a conversation starter which is so important as there are many symptoms related to this stage of life that are often overlooked by medical professionals.
Diane Danzebrink at www.menopausesupport.co.uk #makemenopausematter is a champion campaigner and advocate for us women, offering so many resources and support.
Thanks to Diane Danzebrink and several other ‘Menovists’ Menopause has been added to the Curriculum in schools in England. There is also a petition at change.org campaigning for better menopause care for everyone.
At www.pausitivity.co.uk there’s a poster campaign, translated into several languages, to highlight some of the many symptoms of menopause, and spread the word globally, to reach out to those who may be suffering in silence.
Menopause Cafe is another wonderful opportunity to connect with others who may be experiencing symptoms. In 2018 I attended my first Menopause Cafe and it was a real ‘game-changer’ for me as I was able to express myself, share my symptoms with like-minded souls, hear their stories, and meet so many inspirational women. In fact, I was so inspired, I’ve been hosting Menopause Cafe Blackwood since 2019.
#menopausecafe
I recently attended #Flushfest21 online – a fantastic weekend celebrating womanhood at every stage of life but mainly focusing on peri-menopause, menopause and beyond, with a plethora of ace speakers, so much information on offer, along with comedy cabaret and belly dancing.
My peri-menopausal journey has also resulted in me contributing a chapter on ‘The Benefit’s of Yoga’ in a wonderful, frank, informative book on ‘Surgical Menopause’, the brain child of the amazing Helen Kemp. #surgicalmenopause #NYTM #chemicalmenopause #prematuremenopause
I’m grateful to Davina McCall for highlighting the impact of the mental health issues often related to the climacteric stage of life. #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek2021
I would have liked to see more focus on the many other useful things available to support women navigate their symptoms such as nutrition, exercise, yoga, mindfulness, meditation, homoeopathy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), walking, wild water swimming, talking therapies, creative writing, etc.
Let’s keep the conversations going to help educate, spread awareness and create the change to banish this often taboo subject. #menopause #perimenopause #WomensHealth
I feel so privileged to be part of this wonderful new book – Surgical Menopause #NYTM @SurMenoNYTM edited by the brilliant Helen Kemp
It is to be published around the 8th April 2021 but my preview copy arrived in the post recently and is such a great resource for those contemplating a surgical menopause, post-surgery and beyond, as I see many women suffering symptoms at the Menopause Café’s I host, in Aura Homoeopathy Clinic and Aura Yoga with Geri classes many years later.
The stories of these 12 women who all went through very different experiences of surgical menopause are inspiring, informative and empowering.
I wrote the chapter on the benefits of Yoga.
There is also a section dedicated to ‘what might help?’
‘Hot’ Women is a term I use referring to Peri-menopausal and Menopausal symptoms in women, not necessarily hot flushes and night sweats as not all women suffer with these symptoms. Apparently, there are approximately 40 menopause related symptoms women may experience either naturally, surgically or medically induced. More
In view of the current COVID 19 Coronavirus guidelines in place I have set up a weekly yoga class schedule via ‘Zoom’. To join ‘Zoom’ visit www.zoom.us or download the ‘app’ from your ‘app’ store.
These Hatha Yoga classes are suitable for existing students of mine and are for mixed ability.
Meeting ID and Passcodes for each session are issued via email or text message to students who email me and complete the necessary documentation, provided by the British Wheel of Yoga, my governing body and insurance provider.
I intend to offer Meditation, Chair Yoga and Yoga for ‘Hot’ Women sessions via Zoom, subject to demand. I also hope to provide Facebook Live and You Tube wellbeing sessions.
Aura Homoeopathy Clinic is currently open for business offering online consultations by appointment only via What’s App, Messenger, Skype and Zoom. Please contact me for a no obligation 15 minutes chat to find out more.
Homoeopathy can be very helpful in treating the signs and symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease by assisting the sufferer’s vital force (body’s unique intelligence) to restore balance, harmony and wellbeing – our natural Homeostasis.
I know only too well the difficulties of living with Ulcerative Colitis after seemingly developing the ‘dis-ease’ from contracting amoebic dysentery in my early twenties.
According to the NHS website “Ulcerative colitis is a long-term condition where the colon (the large intestine or bowel) and rectum (the end of the bowel where the stools are stored) become inflamed. Small ulcers can develop on the colon’s lining, can bleed and produce pus.
Main symptoms
The main symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis are:
Recurring diarrhoea, which may contain blood, mucus and/or pus.
Tummy pain
Needing to empty your bowels frequently.
You may also experience extreme tiredness (fatigue), loss of appetite and weigh loss.
The severity of the symptoms varies, depending on how much of the rectum and colon is inflamed and how severe the inflammation is. For some people, the condition has a significant impact on their everyday lives.
Symptoms of a flare-up
Some people may go for weeks or months with very mild symptoms, or none at all (remission), followed by periods where the symptoms are particularly troublesome (flare-ups or relapse).
During a flare-up, some people with ulcerative colitis also experience symptoms elsewhere in their body.
For example, some people develop:
Painful and swollen joints (arthritis)
Mouth ulcers
Areas of painful, red and swollen skin
Irritated and red eyes
In severe cases, defined as having to empty your bowels 6 or more times a day, additional symptoms may include:
Shortness of breath
A fast or irregular heartbeat
A high temperature (fever)
Blood in your stools becoming more obvious
In most people, no specific trigger for flare-ups is identified, although a gut infection can occasionally be the cause. Stress is also thought to be a potential factor.
When to seek medical advice:
You should see a GP as soon as possible if you have symptoms of ulcerative colitis and you have not been diagnosed with the condition. They can arrange blood or stool sample tests to help determine what may be causing your symptoms. If necessary, they can refer you to hospital for further tests.
It is estimated around 1 in every 420 people living in the UK has ulcerative colitis. This amounts to around 146,000 people.
IBD or IBS?
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term mainly used to describe 2 conditions that cause inflammation of the gut (gastrointestinal tract).
They are:
Ulcerative colitis
Crohn’s disease
IBD should not be confused with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) which is a different condition and requires different treatment.” [www.nhs.uk]
What works for me?
Thankfully over thirty years on I’m currently symptom free, not reliant on prescription drugs and enjoying life to the full. I contribute this to a healthy lifestyle, avoiding triggers – certain foods and stress, good nutrition, meditation, yoga and homoeopathy.
It’s not simply a case of one remedy to match a disease name. A professional homoeopath, such as myself will closely ascertain how the symptoms are expressed by each individual and match the homoeopathic prescription accordingly.
In homoeopathy we look at the patient’s physical symptoms, emotional state, lifestyle factors and family history as these all assist in matching the Homoeopathic remedy to the individual.
Please contact me directly if you’d like to make an appointment or take advantage of a no obligation, up to 15 minute telephone conversation or online chat to discuss.
The charity Crohn’s & Colitis UK are a brilliant source of information and support for sufferers.
World Menopause Day is an international observance held on October 18 every year. It was initiated by the International Menopause Society, a UK based non-commercial organization that was created in 1978 during the second Menopause Convention that took place in Jerusalem.”
It is a worldwide awareness call for women who face health issues when approaching, during and beyond the menopause to discuss the many topics around this life occurrence.
All women will experience the Menopause. The Menopause is defined as a 12 month after your last menstrual cycle however, menopause can be induced by some gynaecology surgery or medication. The majority of women experience a whole host of symptoms several years prior to menopause, this is known as peri-menopause.
Peri-menopause is where I’m currently at and it started 5-6 years ago with irregularity in my menstrual cycle, brain fog, anger, fatigue, mood swings, weight-gain, etc. I’m in my 50’s but for some women peri-menopause and menopause occur in the 30+ age group or earlier. I recommend you visit your GP to discuss your symptoms but do some research beforehand and go prepared with a list of what you wish to discuss as a 10 minute maximum appointment time is common.
I started my own research based on my symptoms and bought a Menopause Indicator Test from my local Wilko store. This test is rather like a home Pregnancy Test kit where you urinate on the device and the result is shown in the indicator window. The test measures the level of FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) which dramatically reduces in peri-menopause. My test result indicated that I am “on the change” as it’s commonly known.
I’m thankful and consider myself to be very fortunate that I seem to be embracing my mid-life transition and transformation well. I’m aware that many other women are not always in such a favourable position and are enduring real hardship managing their peri-menopause and menopausal symptoms, especially in the workplace, with little or no support. This needs to change and I’m hoping this local event will help sow the seeds of such change, offering information, inspiration, support and hope.
A year ago I attended a Menopause Café where all ages, genders, meet to discuss topics relating to the menopause over tea and cake. An open, respectful and confidential space where participants can express their views safely. No intention of leading participants to any conclusion, product or course of action. I continued attending the monthly group and enjoyed the experience that resulted in me feeling much more optimistic about midlife and beyond.
At the beginning of 2019 I began hosting Menopause Café Blackwood and it has become very popular. It’s a daytime event, meeting on the first Monday of the month 9.30-11.30am at The Potting Shed Café, Blackwood Garden Centre, NP12 0PN. I’ve settled on this time and venue for now as it’s so well attended. I tried scheduling the Menopause Cafe in the evening, but they weren’t so popular however many people contacted me to say they’d like to attend an evening event to find out more.
That’s when I decided to host an event to celebrate Womanhood for World Menopause Day.
The event isn’t just for those experiencing peri-menopause or menopause. All ages and genders are welcome as peri-menopause and menopause affects us all, either directly or indirectly, so I look forward to you joining us.
I’ve been very fortunate as so many local businesses and therapists have agreed to take part:
Aura Homoeopathy & Yoga with Geri
Anita Hughes Photography
Body Shop & Bloom
Eden Energy Medicine
Forever Living Aloe Juice
@Indigo Fairie – Alternative Healing
New Moon Tranquility – Aromatherapy, Reiki, plus so much more
Partylite – Soy Candles, etc.
Samantha Connell – Personal Training Instructor
There will also be short talks on Menopause, Mindfulness, Drumming animal journey and Homoeopathy.
Please spread the word and why not join us in the event at:
WORLD MENOPAUSE DAY event at Studio 54, is at the old JW org building, next to the tiny car park next to Blackwood Miners Institute, High Street, Blackwood, NP12 1AA.
Event Details
WORLD MENOPAUSE DAY event at Studio 54, is at the old JW org building, next to the tiny car park next to Blackwood Miners Institute, High Street, Blackwood, NP12 1AA. 6.00-8.00pm on Friday 18th October 2019.
Free Entry
A celebration of WOMANHOOD, MIDLIFE & BEYOND. Information, inspiration, Aromatherapy, Body Shop, Crystals, Eden Energy Medicine, Homoeopathy, Professional Photographer – Boudoir & Christmas Packages, Reflexology, Reiki, Yoga. There is a charge for taster sessions and goods for sale.
Studio 54, 54 High Street, NP12 1BB
on Friday 18th October 2019 6.00-8.00pm.
Free entry.
Charges for taster sessions and goods for sale.
(The local pay and display car parks are free after 6pm. Time restrictions apply to parking at local retail car parks.)
Head lice and nits are very common in children and their families. Apparently, they do not have anything to do with dirty hair and are picked up by head-to-head contact. [www.nhs.uk]. I also believe they can be picked up sharing brushes, combs, hats, helmets, clothing, bedding and towels of someone with head lice. The NHS website offer information, photos and videos to help your recognise and successfully treat head lice so please don’t panic.
I contracted head lice at school and in the past so have my children. I’ve tried many different methods to eliminate the headlice (tiny insects approximately 5mm in size or smaller if they’ve not long hatched) and nits (their tiny white eggs that stick to strands of hair) but by far the most effective treatment I’ve found is Delacet Head Lice and Nits Lotion. This is made from Tincture of Larkspur and Acetic Acid (Vinegar) and is available from The Homeopathic Supply Company [www.hsconline.co.uk].
According to Homeopathy Plus:
Tincture of Larkspur or Staphysagria is made from the herb Delphinium Staphysagria. It is also known as Larkspur or Lice-bane because of its herbal use in killing body lice. The ancient Greeks and Romans recorded using this toxic herb as a herbal medication for a variety of uses, including as a salve that worked as a remedy for bites, stings and lice.”
It is the most effective treatment for head lice I’ve ever used and witnessed working successfully time and time again. It is the only natural treatment which does not involve prolonged combing, applications on consecutive days.
It does need to remain on the hair for 2-3 hours and I find placing a shower cap over the hair as soon the Delacet lotion application is completed, helps prevent the lotion dripping and/or strands of hair straying. In fact, the instructions for use recommend using a shower cap but always supervise children and vulnerable adults during the treatment. Of course, it is also wise to carry out a skin patch test in case of sensitivity prior to using this product.
According to Delacet their lotion is made from a unique dual action flower extract used in Europe for decades due to its outstanding effectiveness after just one application and highlights the benefits as follows [www.delacet.co.uk]:
“Used successfully for over 50 years
No organophosphates
No detection combing required
No prolonged applications
Easy to wash out
Suitable for adults and children
Quick, simple, safe and effective
Disinfecting & conditioning properties
Excellent for dreadlocks & thick hair
Suitable for permed hair/extensions
Not tested on animals
Suitable for vegans
Packaging fully recyclable
Produced to GMP standards (ISO 9001)”
If you suspect head lice to be a problem in your hair or that of your child I recommend using a nit-comb for headlice detection as you only need to use a head lice lotion treatment if you discover head-lice in the hair. In my opinion by far the best product for the job is ‘Nitty Gritty’.
This is a revolutionary nit-comb made by mums. How does it work? “The NitFree Comb’s 33 round-tipped teeth go through your hair quickly and easily, and the ‘micro-spiral’ groove in each one gentle removes anything that’s attached to your hair … lice, nits and even unhatched ‘live’ louse eggs. The rounded tips won’t scratch your scalp – and just one NitFree Comb is all you need to check and treat the whole family.” [www.nittygritty.co.uk]
The ‘Nitty Gritty’ is larger than most nit combs on the market, including the ones that are often included in the main brands of head lice treatment. This larger nit-comb make is easier to handle and use as you work your way through the strands of wet hair with a liberal application of hair-conditioner applied. Wet combing the hair from the roots to the tips, focusing especially on the warmer areas of the scalp e.g. back of neck and behind the ears.
It is easier if you can separate the hair into sections and keep the sections you’ve checked away from those left to do. I find wiping the nit comb in white kitchen roll sheets or white paper very effective as you can see if any headlice and nits have been picked up in your trawl through the hair, I also rinse the nit comb in water to reduce contamination and the conditioner build-up make this a slippery task.
If I detect head lice I continue nit combing the whole head of hair and rinse off the conditioner. I then apply the Delacet lotion as directed and wash off with shampoo, then dry the hair as usual.
I’m looking forward to welcoming you (by appointment only) to
To learn more about Homoeopathy, click on the links below
copy arrived in the post recently and is such a great resource for those contemplating a surgical menopause, post-surgery and beyond, as I see many women suffering symptoms at the Menopause Café’s I host, in Aura Homoeopathy Clinic and Aura Yoga with Geri classes many years later.
This is a revolutionary nit-comb made by mums. How does it work? “The NitFree Comb’s 33 round-tipped teeth go through your hair quickly and easily, and the ‘micro-spiral’ groove in each one gentle removes anything that’s attached to your hair … lice, nits and even unhatched ‘live’ louse eggs. The rounded tips won’t scratch your scalp – and just one NitFree Comb is all you need to check and treat the whole family.” [