<<back to previous pageDiet has always been a part of medicine and healing, and it is a feature of all traditional medicine systems. However dietary and nutritional advice and therapy have become much more specific following scientific advances in the understanding of essential nutrients and their functions.
The body requires essential macro and micronutrients in order to sustain life and health. The macronutrients are carbohydrates (sugars and starches), proteins (including amino acids), fats (including essential fatty acids) and fibre. The micronutrients are vitamins, minerals and trace elements. Since the body cannot manufacture the micronutrients itself it must obtain them from food.
Nowadays, poor diet, increased intake of junk food, a decrease of nutrients in the soil, chemical farming methods, global pollution and high-stress lifestyles are all thought to play a part in nutritional deficiency. This is becoming increasingly common even amongst Western populations. Individual needs for different nutrients has also been shown to vary widely. Careful dietary adjustment and/or nutritional supplementation can therefore have a huge impact on health.
Nutritional therapy has been shown to be beneficial for many diseases. Consultations often begin with a questionnaire analysing your food and lifestyle habits. You may be asked to keep a food diary and be recommended certain tests to determine levels of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, bowel function, levels of healthy bacteria in the gut and possible food intolerances. These can take the form of hair, sweat and urine analysis, blood tests, measurement on electrical devices designed to detect food sensitivities (such as the VEGA system) or muscle testing as used in applied kinesiology. The practitioner may also carry out physical examinations, for example, of your skin and nails, to look for signs of deficiencies.
Treatment involves tailor-made diets usually eliminating specific foods
and increasing the intake of others. Specific nutrients in the form of
pills, capsules, powders and liquid tinctures may also be recommended.
Osteopathy is an established, recognised system of diagnosis and treatment that lays its main emphasis on the structural integrity of the body. It is distinctive in the fact that it recognises much of the pain and disability we suffer stems from abnormalities in the function of the body structure as well as damage caused to it by disease.
Osteopaths use their hands both to investigate the underlying causes of pain and to carry out treatment using a variety of manipulative techniques.
For further details contact the General Osteopathic Council on
020 7357 6655
This is a gentle and relaxing therapy using compression and massage techniques on the feet. By working on reflex points, blockages can be released, restoring the free flow of energy to the whole body. Tensions are eased, toxins eliminated and circulation improved, inducing relaxation and balance to the body's own healing mechanism.
For more information contact the British Reflexology Association
on 01886 821 207 or
www.britreflex.co.uk
Reiki is an energy from the highest spiritual source channelled through the practitioner. This energy has a healing effect and is transferred to the client by the practitioner placing their hands on the head and body of the client (or just above if preferred) in various positions.
For more information click here to be taken to
our Reiki article or contact the UK Reiki Federation on 01264
773774 or www.reikifed.co.uk
