Holistic Scotland Magazine Summer 2019

SUMMER 2019

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FREE

Lhve Yoga Discover yoga for sleep BOWEN THERAPY Foot care fit for the beach Everything you need to know about CBD

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FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome… …to the Summer issue of Holistic Scotland Magazine.

This time last year I was unpacking the very first issue, hot off the press. We’ve come a long way since then and are looking forward to reaching even more readers as we continue to grow. We’re delighted to welcome a whole host of new health stores, therapy clinics and cafes to our stockist network this issue. That means even more places where you can pick up a copy for free.

This summer we are teaming up with The Ecology Centre to host Fife’s first outdoor health and wellbeing day, Your Peace, Our Place, which will take place on the banks of Kinghorn Loch on August 17. Keep your eyes peeled on our website for more updates!

We’re also pleased to introduce you to our new beauty editor, Karen Gider, who is the founder of Face Yoga Scotland. If there’s something you’d like to see Karen cover or would like to send her some products to try, you can email her directly at karen@holisticscot.com Zen yoga teacher and crystal and sound therapist Scott Hutchison-McDade also joins us this issue as a columnist. Scott, who is the founder of Positive Change Yoga, has lots of Zen wisdom to share with you all. Check out his first column on page 38.

And we hope you’ll enjoy our in-depth report on CBD, which answers many of the questions we all have, such as does it really work, how much should we be taking, is it legal and, if so, why aren’t doctors prescribing it?

As always, feel free to get in touch with me at any time and do send us your news, ideas, feedback and events. If you run your own business and would like to find out how working with Holistic Scotland Magazine could help you attract new customers and increase your sales in Scotland, drop us a line. You’ll find all the contact details over the page or on our website at www.holisticscotland.com In the meantime, have a great Summer!

Lynda Hamilton Parker Publishing Editor Holistic Scotland Magazine

HolisticScotMagazine

HolisticScotMag

HolisticScotlandMag

www.holisticscotland.com SUMMER 2019 | HOLISTIC SCOTLAND

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26

Foot care fit for the beach

58

Summer soups

This Issue…

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WIN a Lu

xu Podicu ry re!

36

Yoga for sleep

Contributors

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Karen Gider Beauty Editor

Katrina Mather Columnist

Fraser Reid Contributor

Pamela Spence Columnist

Marie O’Neill Columnist

Vicki Rebecca Contributor

Ali Cullen Columnist

Scott HutchisonMcDade Columnist

Janey Lee Grace Contributor

SUMMER 2019 | HOLISTIC SCOTLAND

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Toxic!

What cleaning chemicals are doing to your health

18 What supp? The new rules when it comes to taking supplements

48 Celebrations for the 21st century

24 Summer foot care

62 Is hemp the answer to everything?

30 Do you dare to bare this Summer?

32 Yoga for life

58 Eat well!

72 Win a Seedball bundle

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Dream wellbeing destinations

Ask Ali – allergies & hay fever

42

Janey Lee Grace on the Bowen technique

Holistic Scotland Magazine: www.holisticscotland.com Email: editorial@holisticscot.com / advertising@holisticscot.com Facebook: facebook.com/HolisticScotMagazine Twitter: twitter.com/HolisticScotMag Instagram: Instagram.com/holisticscotlandmag Published by Lynda Hamilton Communications, 14 West Vows Walk, Kirkcaldy, Fife KY1 1RX Publishing Editor: Lynda Hamilton Parker Design & Production: Winterhouse Design www.winterhouse.net Print & Distribution: Gladstone Media Next issue: Autumn 2019

DISCLAIMER: The views within this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. Articles and advertisements are for information only and are not intended to replace medical care. Always check with your GP before embarking on any new nutritional or fitness programmes and before trying any of the remedies featured in this magazine. Always seek medical advice if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or taking any medication before following any advice featured in this magazine. Although the publisher has made every effort to include and recommend products and services which contain natural ingredients, are sustainably packaged and crueltyfree, please note it is not always possible to tick every box. Always visit the product website to check the ingredients and nature of its packaging, along with its cruelty-free credentials.

SUMMER 2019 | HOLISTIC SCOTLAND

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H E A LT H

What’s new in natural health?

Nose filters that could put a stop to hayfever misery Unlike lots of hayfever medicines that just treat the symptoms, these revolutionary new nose filters can stop the allergy before it starts.

These discrete O2 Nose Filters are tiny devices which sit inside the nose and trap up to 100% of pollen particles – putting a stop to runny noses, itchy eyes and sneezing.

They’re drug-free, making them suitable for everyone – including pregnant women, asthmatics and those taking other prescription medicines – and they’re only £2!

Shop at o2nosefilters.com

Scotland to become a nation of lifesavers Nearly half a million youngsters in Scotland are set to be taught CPR in the classroom every year thanks to a national campaign by British Heart Foundation (BHF) Scotland.

The Nation of Lifesavers campaign has been designed to make sure every pupil is trained in CPR before they leave secondary school to help save thousands more lives.

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Magic mushrooms for immortality In ancient China, emperors were the only people allowed to eat reishi mushrooms.

Dubbed ‘the mushroom of immortality’, they were incredibly rare and thought to be able to extend life.

But new research suggests there’s more to their life-extending properties than just myth. Scientists have even been able to extend the life of worms by feeding them extracts of the mushroom.

While nematodes are a long way from humans, there’s a growing body of evidence to support the perceived health benefits of reishi.

Herbal Tea specialist Natur Boutique has launched new Reishi Tea to make it easy to include reishi mushrooms in our diets. The drink is made with organically grown reishi, without the use of pesticides of synthetic fertilisers, to give the tea a superior level of purity.

Shop at naturboutique.co.uk

SUMMER 2019 | HOLISTIC SCOTLAND

Precious metal for purity and peace of mind

HEALTH NEWS Ditch the meat and live longer Now could be a good time to go vegan because new research from the University of Eastern Finland has confirmed that animal protein-based diets are bad for our health. Meat, especially, was found to be a common factor in lower life expectancy.

GO GREEN TO BOOST YOUR BRAIN POWER No known disease-causing organism can survive in the presence of silver. That’s why colloidal silver has the potential to increase energy levels, boost immunity, and combat eczema.

It is, of course, also antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal – making it one of the most exciting wellbeing products to recently hit the market.

Dating back to ancient times, silver was a popular remedy to stop the spread of disease and its use as a natural antibiotic continued until the 1940s – when modern antibiotics were introduced.

Harking back to these traditional methods, Colloidal Earth has launched a range of silver sprays and tonics, which come highly recommended by many naturopathic, homeopathic and Ayurvedic doctors in the UK and worldwide.

Find out more at colloidalearth.com

Feeling stressed? Reach for a cup of green tea, whose antioxidant components have been shown to reduce the cognitive damage caused by stressful experiences.

Beware the microplastics in your bottled water If you drink bottled water, you can expect to consume around 640,000 microplastics in a year. Around 79% of plastic produced since the 1950s is now in landfills or the environment – equating to 6.5 billion pieces currently filling the shores of our beaches and the stomachs of our wildlife, not to mention our own bodies.

SCIENTISTS FIND SOLUTIONS UNDER THE SEA Scientists have recovered dozens of antimicrobial and anticancer compounds from seaweed, which could suggest that underwater forests are a treasure trove of new (natural) drugs.

A new study has revealed, for the first time, that a common species of seaweed, Laminaria ochroleuca, is a rich source of bacteria with antimicrobial and anticancer properties.

SUMMER 2019 | HOLISTIC SCOTLAND

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FAV O U R I T E T H I N G S

A few of our favourite things…

All things Dr Organic Dr Organic can do no wrong as far as we’re concerned as we’ve yet to find a product that isn’t fab! From shampoo to toothpaste, the brand has won our hearts with its unique natural skincare, body care and hair care ranges.

Two of our favourites are Dr Organic’s Manuka Honey Deodorant, which works a treat, and its Aloe Vera Concentrated Cream, which helps to give skin a soft and healthy glow.

Available at independent health stores nationwide.

Cressida Harte Rainbow Unicorn Make-Up Brushes Teens will love these colourful make-up brushes, which are vegan-friendly – having been made with plush micro-fibre rather than animal hair.

The five-piece set is soft on the skin, allergy-free and ideal for blushing, bronzing and highlighting.

The pretty quintet even comes in its own unique cylinder tub to help protect the brushes in transit.

Buy direct at cressidaharte.com

Ben & Anna Natural Toothpaste If you love Ben & Anna’s paper tube vegan deodorant range, you’ll love this new range! The new tooth care line comes in recyclable glass containers with metal lids and combines high-quality natural and organic ingredients, such as sea buckthorn, chamomile, activated charcoal, cinnamon and calcium, to give you strong, shiny teeth and healthy gums. The range is, of course, also free from harmful ingredients and cruelty-free.

Visit benandanna.uk

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SUMMER 2019 | HOLISTIC SCOTLAND

FOR HIM Solid Cologne UK Great for travelling, this solid, natural wax-based cologne is applied directly to the skin for subtle, long-lasting fragrance. Each scent contains highquality natural ingredients including beeswax, shea butter & jojoba oil to help support and protect the skin and does exactly what it says on the tin!

Shop at solidcologne.co.uk

Green People Gym Bag Heroes This Limited-Edition trio of treats is perfect for postworkout grooming and includes Detox Shower Gel, Thyme & Prebiotics Deodorant, and Itch-Away Shampoo – combining key ingredients, organic aloe vera, green tea, seaweed and thyme. You might also like Green People’s Organic Shave Kit, which turns a daily chore into a morning pamper session, with protective moisturising ingredients to keep the skin supple and hydrated.

Go to greenpeople.co.uk

Kapow Meggings Summer is here and Kapow Meggings have bright and colourful, high-quality performance leggings to match the season. Each style is crafted from a high-performance spandex & polyester construction that features 4-way stretch, extra tough stitching, and sweatwicking technology, making them perfect for any type of workout such as yoga, running and marathons, and more. Designed for the male physique and made to feel like a second skin, these leggings are comfortable, durable and fun to wear. With more than 50 unique styles, there’s a conversation-starting design for everyone, from metallic and holographic, galaxy & animal prints to graffiti and acid jazz.

Shop the range at kapowmeggings.co.uk

SUMMER 2019 | HOLISTIC SCOTLAND

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2019 EVENTS

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Soul Retreat Beauty School In Edinburgh, from 17 July

Holistic Scotland Connections In Fife, every last Wednesday of the month If you work in, or are passionate about, the health and wellness industry, join the Holistic Scotland team for a series of new events designed to help you grow your business, meet like-minded connections, try new things and have some fun. Whether you’re a yoga instructor, independent shop owner, doctor, nutritionist, holistic therapist, or just curious, these events are for you. This is networking, but not as you know it – with the first series of events taking place in the Nest at The Ecology Centre, overlooking Kinghorn Loch.

Visit holisticscotland.com for details.

The team at Soul Retreat in Edinburgh want the young people of the world to OWN their unique beauty from the inside out and wear it with confidence. That’s why they’re hosting a Beauty School for teenage girls and boys between P7 and S2 this Summer!

They’ll be showing teenagers how to work with what they’ve got, with the tools they have at their fingertips. Your teen will learn how to take care of their skin, how to apply their make-up and style their hair, but most importantly how to feel beautiful and confident in their own skin. The programme will run for four consecutive Wednesdays from 17 July, between 10am and 2pm. To find out more, or to book a space, contact Charlene at hello@soul-retreat.uk or on 0131 445 2246.

Wellbeing Facilitators’ Retreat Cumbernauld, 20-22 September This retreat is a chance for anyone who offers wellbeing, in whatever form, to meet likeminded people and get together for peer support and nourishment. It’s a chance to have space to decompress, to try sessions in things we haven’t yet had the chance to try and to feel uplifted and inspired. To find out more, contact susie@pauseandbreathe.co.uk or visit pauseandbreathe.co.uk

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SUMMER 2019 | HOLISTIC SCOTLAND

PRO M OT I O NA L F E AT U R E

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Your peace, our place

Get along to Fife’s first outdoor health and wellbeing day on Saturday, 17 August at The Ecology Centre in Kinghorn!

Expect a day filled with talks, treatments and workshops co-hosted by Holistic Scotland Magazine to help you feel healthier, energised and more in tune with yourself and the world around you.

Highlights include a foodie area dedicated to the latest plant-based food and drinks; free taster classes from some of Fife’s top fitness experts, specialising in yoga, Nia, PiYo and strength training; plenty of stalls and a series of talks designed to inspire and entertain.

Holistic Scotland Magazine will debut its new Herbal Tea Tent and Chill Out Zone – sponsored by Health Food & More – where you’ll be able to grab a free herbal tea or alt-gin virgin drink and enjoy a face yoga or sound healing session in association with Face Yoga Scotland and Positive Change Yoga.

The day will culminate in a guided meditation in the Holistic Scotland Magazine tent, where you’ll be able to pick up a free goodie bag containing the latest issue of Holistic Scotland Magazine and a selection of other natural health and beauty gifts.

Find out more at theecologycentre.org

SUMMER 2019 | HOLISTIC SCOTLAND

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H E A LT H

CLEANING PRODUCTS CAN CONTAIN SOME SERIOUSLY NASTY TOXINS. HERE’S WHY YOU SHOULD RID YOUR HOME OF THEM FOR GOOD

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n a 20-year study conducted by the Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, scientists discovered that the effect of regularly using chemical cleaning products could be the equivalent of smoking 20 cigarettes a day.

That’s because regular household cleaning favourites usually contain one or more of the following common chemicals: Bisphenola, Phthalates, Parabens, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Benzyl Alcohol – each of which has been scientifically proven to disrupt the hormone and endocrine systems.

According to Angelika Davenport, who founded the TINCTURE brand of toxin-free home cleaning products,

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even products marketed as ‘natural’ and ‘chemical-free’ can still contain these nasties.

Angelika’s research into the toxic effect of chemical cleaning products compelled her to produce a natural alternative, without any nasties whatsoever.

Bio-D’s founder Michael Barwell’s previous job was to clean commercial ships using industrial cleaning products for which heavy-duty safety equipment, including a respirator, had to be worn. He was shocked to find out that many of the ingredients he used at work could also be found in everyday household cleaners.

SUMMER 2019 | HOLISTIC SCOTLAND

Did you know?

HEALTHY SWAPS

When you step into a freshly-cleaned bath tub, you are likely bathing in water laced with toxic chemical residue. Many of the chemical ingredients found in popular cleaning products are absorbed straight into the skin and can be toxic to our health, as well as the environment.

This discovery prompted him to look for naturally-derived alternatives that would do the same job – and Bio-D was born.

“There are a variety of harsh chemicals that are used in cleaning products, many of which cause problems in the environment,” he says.

“The majority of cleaning products, such as toilet cleaner, laundry detergent and dishwasher tablets, are eventually rinsed down the drain. They then make their way to waste treatment facilities, where you would think the contaminants would be removed. However, these are often not fully removed, and over time build up to contaminate our rivers and water systems – ultimately harming animals and plant life.

“Chemical-based products can also affect humans, causing skin conditions and allergies.”

Home is where the heart is, so help make yours a healthier place to be by swapping toxic, chemical cleaning products for some of these greener alternatives Rid your home of harmful, toxic chemicals, poisonous pollutants and artificial fragrances for good with the help of TINCTURE’s 100% botanical home cleaning and wellbeing blend. Based on proven ancient monastic herbal remedies, each formulation harnesses the cleansing power of botanical extracts and essential oils to rid your home of dirt and germs.

Shop the range at tincturelondon.com Using e-cloths can make your home healthier by eliminating toxic chemicals, while also reducing environmental damage caused by chemical usage and waste.

The secret to e-cloth’s super absorbency and almost magnetic cleaning power lies in the tiny fibre technology. The superior fibres in e-cloths are at least 100 times finer than a human hair, and each fibre is then split in 16 miniscule fibre filaments which are processed in different ways to provide different cleaning characteristics.

Find out more at ecloth.com The Greener Cleaner®Eco-Flek range is made from 100% recycled material (60% recycled plastic and 40% sustainable wood pulp). Its stylish Greener Cleaner® Nature range features handles made from 100% natural bamboo, which is the world’s fastest renewable source.

Visit greenerc.com

SUMMER 2019 | HOLISTIC SCOTLAND

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H E A LT H

How toxic is your home?

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ndoor air pollution can be five times worse in the home than outside.

There are thought to be as many as 900 toxins which can pollute indoor air. These include Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) found in perfumes, hair spray, cleaning agents, dry cleaning fluid, paints, lacquers, and varnishes, and Formaldehyde, which is found in gas stoves, MDF, carpets and other furniture products.

We spend 90% of our time indoors, so getting the best indoor air quality is essential for your health!

Homes with poor indoor air quality caused by increased humidity can also be breeding grounds for mould, which can worsen asthma and other respiratory conditions. Health problems such as asthma, sore throats, bronchitis, skin rashes, red eyes, headaches, runny nose and nasal congestion can all be caused by toxins in the air. Long-term exposure to toxins in the home has even been linked to diabetes, dementia, tachycardia and an increased risk of cancer.

Ventilation manufacturer EnviroVent has teamed up with indoor air testing specialist Airtopia to offer quick and easy Home Health checks. To find out if your home has problem with high levels of airborne chemicals; moisture and humidity; carbon dioxide; formaldehyde, or microbial VOCs, book a Home Health check at envirovent.com/healthcheck

These bactericidal and acaricide 2-in-1 OLIOSEPTILÂŽ purifying sprays are ideal for breathing a purer and healthier air while improving sleep. Each formula combines essential oils selected carefully for their antiviral, antiseptic and disinfectant properties, while creating a fresher atmosphere. They are designed to prevent ambient germs from developing, and to pleasantly scent your home while improving your daily wellbeing. Available at health2u.co.uk

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SUMMER 2019 | HOLISTIC SCOTLAND

v e e f r ? y a H A

Aller gi ?

i h n R

c i i s g ? r e ll

Rinses and cleanses the nose of allergens

Used to help with symptoms such as itchy eyes and throat, sneezing, blocked nose and runny and itchy nose

Pollinosan Hayfever tablets A homeopathic medicinal product used within the homeopathic tradition to relieve the symptoms of hayfever and other forms of allergic rhinitis.

Contains Ammi Visnaga 1x, Aralia Racemosa 2x, Cardiospermum halicacabum2x, Larrea Mexicana 2x, Luffa operculata 6x, Okoubaka aubrevillei 2x, Galphimia glauca 3x. Always read the leaflet.

Pollinosan Luffa Nasal Spray A medical device for the relief of hayfever, allergies and allergic rhinitis.

Used to clear the nose of pollen, dust and other allergen particles, restoring the fluid and moisture in the nose making it feel more comfortable.

4030

Available from health food stores nationwide.

For further information please visit www.avogel.co.uk or call our helpline on 0845 608 5858.

H E A LT H

Ask Ali This issue, nutritional therapist Ali Cullen of A.Vogel answers your questions on hay fever and allergies.

Q.

Why is my hayfever so much worse this year?

A.

The warm weather earlier this year encouraged many plants to produce pollen before their usual ‘slot’. There are plenty of other factors that can worsen symptoms though. Have you moved to a different area? Exposure to different plants can cause problems, especially if there’s more pollution (which can mix with pollen to create a more challenging allergen).

A newly-built house or new furniture or DIY activities can expose you to different chemicals; renovating an old house is particularly tricky for exposure to airborne irritants.

Stress will worsen symptoms because it drives inflammatory processes and has a negative impact on digestion, which in turn can confuse your immune system.

Check your diet and review your life load – can you jettison any additional stresses?

If you’re menopausal your body may struggle increasingly with histamine management, so a few extra anithistamine remedies would help: drink nettle tea and green tea; drip feed yourself vitamin C-rich foods; and top up with a supplement when symptoms are worst. Check for old cosmetics and toiletries lurking in your bathroom – clear out and invest in low-allergen brands.

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Q.

What natural remedies can I take to top up my antihistamine medication? Ideally I’d like to reduce it.

A.

Pollinosan Hayfever tablets can be taken alongside any other drug medication and are suitable for many different symptoms of hay fever and allergic rhinitis, from runny or itchy eyes to blocked or streaming noses, and general sneezy misery. They don’t make you drowsy and don’t lose efficacy even if your pollen ‘window’ is a long one.

Pollinosan Nasal Spray is also available, and this can be added to the tablets if you need a very quick response. The Nasal Spray is suitable for anyone over the age of 6.

I also suggest considering antiinflammatory remedies such as Devil’s Claw or bromelain, as these can ease the general strain. Don’t forget your herbal teas – green tea and nettle tea are helpful.

Ask Ali anything!

Send your health questions, in confidence to: askali@holisticscot.com Questions will only be published with your permission and will remain anonymous.

Ali’s answers are not intended to take the place of medical advice.

Next Issue: Circulatory issues

SUMMER 2019 | HOLISTIC SCOTLAND

Q. A.

What foods will help with my hay fever symptoms?

Let’s get the ‘don’ts’ out of the way first!

all contain quercetin, a type of polyphenol (a chemical compound) that can help control the levels of Dairy products tend histamine being produced to promote clogged by the body. Pineapples membranes in the contain bromelain, a respiratory tract, which compound that can be worsens most hay fever beneficial for those with an symptoms. Go dairy-free allergy, possibly thinning for a season, now that mucus. Flaxseed oil is antithere are so many good dairy alternatives to hand. inflammatory, so use it for dressings on veg or salad.

Refined sugar is also Dairy-free live yoghurt unhelpful, countering the or miso-based products benefits of vitamin C and affecting your blood sugar can help balance your gut bacteria, as can probiotic levels (which can trigger more inflammation). Go for supplements. fresh or dried fruit snacks Try this symptom-easing instead. Although nuts are smoothie, packed with generally healthy, you may natural antihistamines and find that avoiding cashews vitamin C. and walnuts is best whilst Simply add all ingredients you’re suffering. Similarly, except the ice to a blender fermented foods are and then whiz until usually good for you but smooth. Pour into a glass, can sometimes up your add crushed ice and enjoy! histamine intake – just be wary if you have them • 1 cup of freshly regularly. squeezed orange juice • ½ tomato If you like chilli peppers, • 1 cup of strawberries add them in moderation: • ½ cup of blueberries they can help by breaking • 1 tbsp of honey down mucus. Onions, • A piece of fresh ginger, garlic, peppers, broccoli, apples, berries and beans ½ a thumb size

For more in-depth hay fever advice, go to www.avogel.co.uk/ allergies

SUMMER 2019 | HOLISTIC SCOTLAND

Pesky pollen Pollinosan Luffa Nasal Spray is a medical device used for the relief of hay fever, allergies and allergic rhinitis. It is used to clear the nose of pollen, dust and other allergen particles, restoring the fluid and moisture in the nose making it feel more comfortable. Pollinosan Nasal Spray is suitable for vegans and children over the age of 6.

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H E A LT H

What supp?

Thanks to research and advances in technology, the way we take supplements is changing. But what are the new rules when it comes to getting your recommended daily allowance of vitamins and minerals? Ronnie McCluskey of Water for Health explains the latest and most effective ways to make sure your body has everything it needs for optimum health.

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e all know the importance of eating a balanced diet, but how can we make sure we’re hitting our RDA of key micronutrients? In other words, how can we guarantee our bodies are getting the 13 essential vitamins and seven macro-minerals our body needs to carry out its vital functions?

If you’ve ever tracked your macronutrients – carbs, protein, fat – you’ll know just what a timeconsuming chore it can be. Just imagine if you started tracking micronutrients (vitamins C and D, calcium, magnesium and potassium) too. It’s fair to say it would take a lot of the joy out of eating!

While most of us won’t necessarily worry about hitting 100% of our RDA for all micronutrients, just as we don’t always fret about our exact daily intake of macronutrients (unless we’re trying to lose weight), there are sometimes valid reasons why we might want to guarantee that we meet our targets. And if that’s the case, you may look to a supplement for convenience. But what’s the best form? Turn to page 20 to find out.

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SUMMER 2019 | HOLISTIC SCOTLAND

Summer Travel Foreign Food dayS ouT irriTaTed Skin Remember to pack Alliderm Gel and PrePro when you set off on your summer holidays.

Far flung adventures or closer to home, look after your family with 100% stabilised allicin and friendly bacteria.

Visit your local independent health food store to find out more about the AllicinMax range of products.

facebook.com/AllicinInternational @Allicin_Max @allicin_max_official Find Alliderm Gel and PrePro in your local health food store.

For your nearest stockist call 0345 241 0505 www.allicin.co.uk

100%

STABILISED ALLICIN GUARANTEED TM

What supp?

TABLETS AND CAPSULES Most dietary supplements come in tablet or capsule form, but it’s important to think about bioavailability – or how our body digests the nutrients in the chosen form – as well as which additional ingredients are used. Tablets can often contain coatings and compounds you might want to avoid, blends of polymers, plasticisers, binders and fillers. They can also contain artificial colours and hydrogenated oils, and poor-quality fish oil capsules, in particular, have been known to harbour troubling levels of lead and mercury. Of course, if you choose a reputable manufacturer – one who has used thirdparty testing and has Full Disclosure Labelling – you’ll likely have nothing to worry about. Tablets and capsules are often as good a choice as any for getting nutrients into your system.

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TOPICAL SPRAYS AND OILS Topical sprays and oils have started to hit the market, with magnesium oils and vitamin D sprays proving especially popular. These transdermal products promise to get nutrients into the bloodstream quicker via our largest organ: the skin. There’s some evidence to show they do just that. These supplement forms are advisable for people who have trouble swallowing pills.

SUBLINGUALS Speaking of those averse to pills, sublinguals provide an alternative option. While they are technically tablets, they aren’t intended to be swallowed: instead you take tablets under your tongue where they quickly dissolve and enter the bloodstream.

Frunutta’s range of sublingual micro tablets, which include individual vitamins and minerals plus a multivitamin,

are available in the UK exclusively from Water for Health. Because they don’t have to survive stomach acid, they come without the additives and impurities some other tablets are known to contain.

Incidentally, oral sprays use the same principle as sublingual tablets, with the nutrient being absorbed into blood via the mouth.

SHOTS AND IV THERAPY Did you know you can get nutrients from a shot?

Getting a muscle injection isn’t the most pleasant experience though, which is one reason why you tend to hear less about it.

It’s just so much easier to pop a pill or rub some oil into your skin. Another reason is the high cost charged by clinics. That said, vitamin therapy via shot or intravenous drip is effective and generally well tolerated.

SUMMER 2019 | HOLISTIC SCOTLAND

Whether you take a supplement orally, via the skin or even via a syringe or drip, it’s important to do so after a chat through with your doctor. And remember, diet should be the first port of call!

PRO M OT I O NA L F E AT U R E

Drops vs sprays – what’s the best way to get your daily dose of D?

Vitamin D has become one of the most popular and talked about supplements over the last 12 months, with many companies now producing their own brands and varieties and setting new trends. Here, Tony Vincent of SunVit-D3 looks at why oral drops could mean better value for money and why they can be more effective than oral sprays.

Oral drops are a great option if you struggle to swallow tablets or capsules. SunVit-D3 oral drops are not only userfriendly and great value, they are: • Suitable for babies, infants, and children, as well as adults • Great-tasting and orange flavoured, ideal for infants and children • Free from alcohol, dairy, PEG (Polyethylene glycol), sugar, nuts, gluten, gelatine and soya • Approved by the Vegetarian Society UK and Halal Monitoring Committee • Supplied with an integrated oral dropper to make sure the same amount of Vitamin D 100IU is released from each drop.

Sprays are, of course, taken by spraying them into the mouth. They are easily absorbed, allowing nutrients to enter the body more quickly. The downside is that they can be a bit hit and miss. The spray bottle can retain residue and the spray itself can sometimes be wasted in the surrounding air.

There’s no real research which looks at drops vs sprays so it’s very much down to individual choice. But it’s thought that Vitamin D oral drops could be more cost effective. Either way, make sure you’re getting your daily dose of the ‘Sunshine Vitamin’ to help your body regulate calcium, strengthen the immune system and maintain muscle strength.

To find out more, or to buy, go to sunvitd3.co.uk

SUMMER 2019 | HOLISTIC SCOTLAND

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H E A LT H

Your body is talking, are you listening?

Conflicting dietary advice has left many of us confused and unsure what to do. Here, columnist Katrina Mather shares her approach for finding the best regime for us

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hen it comes to navigating the world of health and nutrition, it can feel like a minefield. So many experts promote their take on how best to achieve optimal health that, no matter what we read or hear, someone, somewhere will almost certainly be able to offer us a contradictory view.

It’s no wonder most people I meet feel utterly confused about what they should and shouldn’t be doing health-wise.

Vegan, or paleo?

Ketogenic, or plant-based?

Red wine, or zero wine?

‘Breakfast like a King,’ or intermittent fasting?

We’re bombarded with conflicting advice. I’ve pretty much tried all of

the above at some point on my health journey, but the conclusion I have come to is that in a world of conflicting and overwhelming information, the best approach is to focus our attention inwards, by

tuning in and listening to our bodies to see what genuinely works for us.

At my retreats, I encourage people to start listening to their bodies with compassion, rather than judgement.

To have compassion for our own bodies, the first step is to recognise and appreciate that the body is always striving to keep us well. Arguably, the body’s default setting is to heal. If I break a bone, or cut myself, my body will do what it can with the tools and materials I have given it to repair the bone, or knit that wound. Therefore, when the body is unhappy in some way, or when it is in

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Ways to practise listening to your body FOOD DIARY – record what you’ve eaten and when - and how you’ve felt throughout the day to notice any patterns

RECORD SYMPTOMS – once a week scan the body and record any ‘body messages’, rating them out of 10 to notice any changes

BE MINDFUL OF LABELS – we can easily get ideas stuck in our heads with regards to diet, without listening to the body to see if it’s in agreement

CHECK IN REGULARLY – ask yourself and your body if your current diet and routine still feel right for your body at this time, or season

pain or inflamed, it’s like receiving a notification that something we are doing is not serving us or may be causing us harm.

For every action we take, every piece of food that we eat, and even every thought that we think, the body responds.

Tuning in and listening to our bodies is worth the practise.

I don’t tell anyone to go vegan, paleo or to follow the 5:2 diet – but I do encourage them to experiment, tune in and see what works for them – in essence, become their own experts. Of course, I’m a big believer in juicing and the healing power of Mother Nature’s raw fruits and vegetables.

I run a juice detox retreat

after all, but I encourage people to really tune in as they re-introduce foods into their diet, and consciously notice how they feel as a result.

Our bodies are always trying to keep us as alive and as well as possible.

But, in the age of lifestyle

disease and mental health epidemics, we need to take responsibility for our own health by rekindling our compassion for our bodies and supporting them back to good health, honing our intuition and understanding what helps us to thrive, rather than just survive.

Katrina Mather is the owner of ‘The Body Toolkit Retreats’, awardwinning health retreats in Scotland. Her programmes share simple, yet powerful things we can all do to nourish the body, reduce stress and help ourselves to thrive. www.thebodytoolkit.com

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t o o f t s Be rd a w r fo H E A LT H

Now you’ve got healthy, happy feet, make sure they’re Summer-ready, with the help of foot expert Dr Bharti Rajput MBE PhD of Sole Body Soul in Dundee - aka Dr B!

Avoid new sandal scandal When the better weather arrives, we’re often tempted to buy a new pair of sandals to treat our feet. Make sure your sandals fit well the moment you buy them and if they need “broken in” then they may not be right for your feet after all. Look for softer materials on the sandal straps such as soft leather, suede or fabric to minimise any potential rubbing spots. Wear your new sandals around the house for at least an hour before wearing them outdoors. Then you’ll know that they fit well and, if not, it’s still possible to return them to the shoe store.

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Drop the flip-flops Flip-flops are not to be worn as an all-day shoe covering, it’s not really what they were intended for. Flip flops were designed to be worn for shorter periods of time around the pool and at the beach but nowadays as soon as the warmer weather arrives, lots of people can be seen sporting the around town. They’ve even become a bit of a fashion statement. In my practice, I’ve had a number of patients develop stress fractures, heel pain, and Achilles tendonitis and it also causes the toes to curl up excessively as they try to grip for stability during walking. If you’re going to wear flip-flops, try and find a pair with a thicker sole and a shaped arch

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support. Also, if you can find a pair with a strap at the back of the heel, it will provide more support.

Sack the cracked heels Dry cracked heels are a common problem when you’ve worn your open backed shoes for a few weeks. This happens because the fat pad of the heel can sometimes spread and sit on the edge of the sandal causing the heel to crack. To help your cracked heels, rub your heels dry with a foot file (should resemble sandpaper on a stick and not a metal cheese grater), then follow that with a freshening foot soak in a basin of warm water and some Epsom salts which also nourish the skin and finally apply a good foot specific moisturiser. I don’t believe in covering the feet in a pair of socks unless they are a proper pair of cotton moisturising cotton socks

Beware of barefoot Having spent months being shoved in shoes and covered up in socks and tights, most of us can’t wait to bare our feet as the weather gets better.

Beware though as going barefoot can leave you more

prone of picking up the nasties such as viruses (think verruca) or fungus (think athlete’s foot).

Also, you leave yourself open to more injury and stepping on foreign bodies and getting splinters in your feet. It’s better to wear a pair of soft, lightweight, indoor slippers just for safety and this is especially applicable if you have diabetes as you can leave yourself susceptible to wounds that may not heal due to compromised circulation in diabetes.

Police your pedicure Pedicures can be a serious health risk as everything from the tools, nail files and bubbly foot basins can transmit nail fungus, verruca viruses and sometimes serious bacterial infections. The standard of hygiene in most beauty salons doesn’t match that of podiatry or chiropody clinics where the instruments have to be medically sterilised.

Most salons use a solution Barbicide to simply disinfect their tools and therefore this can still be a source for the spread of infection. Make sure your pedicure salon uses disposable foot files, nail files and doesn’t use razors on your feet. You might even want to consider taking your own tool set.

To book an appointment with the multiaward winning team at Sole Body Soul call, 01382 458 766 or visit the website at solebodysoul.com

SUMMER 2019 | HOLISTIC SCOTLAND

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H E A LT H

Happy feet Keeping feet healthy keeps you healthy and active, writes Amanda Cork of Amanda’s Podiatry. Here are her top tips…

Healthy feet • Washing your feet daily helps you not only to have good foot hygiene, but to monitor you skin’s health, by touching the feet you will feel if there are any breaks to the skin, are there sores? Is that hard bit on the bottom of your foot hard skin or a corn? I’d recommend monitoring your feet for these issues especially for anyone with diabetes.

• Drying feet thoroughly after washing reduces conditions such as Athletes foot, which is a bacteria/fungal infection which likes dark moist, warm environments such as socks and shoes.

This may become itchy in between the toes or over the bottom of the foot. If this occurs see a podiatrist for diagnosis and treatment.

• Keeping toe nails cut and tidy helps to reduce foot pain. If nails become too long and thick, they can press on the top of the shoes when walking. This can cause discomfort and possibly lead to infection or ulceration if neglected.

Poorly cut toe nails can also produce ingrown toe nails, which again will cause pain and possible infections. If you have trouble managing your nails, don’t leave it and see a podiatrist.

Hydration • Keeping feet hydrated and supple by moisturising every day will keep the skin from becoming dry and tight. If 26

your skin dries out, you will lose the skin’s natural oils and its elasticity.

Hydrate the nails with a nail oil to stop them from drying and splitting.

Footwear • Is very important when protecting the feet from the ground we walk on. Make sure there is plenty of cushioning in the shoes for comfort; we have to consider as we age, we lose the fatty padding on the bottom of our feet.

• Make sure the toe box in shoes accommodates hammer toes, mallet toes and is wide enough for bunions.

Foot wear should not rub the feet. It may be wise to get measured for shoes.

Wear shoes for the right activity, if you play tennis wear tennis shoes, it you are a keen walking wear walking shoes, these will protect and support the feet and ankles, provide shock absorption, reducing trauma. To reduce sweaty feet, wear breathable shoes. Make sure shoes do not pinch the toes togetherthis can

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cause corns in between the toes. If shoes are too tight the metatarsals may be pushed together and irritate the interdigital nerves causing a Morton’s neuroma (inflammation of the interdigital nerve).

If you have any issues with your feet, a podiatrist is the first medical health professional to contact.

Find out more at amandaspodiatry.co.uk

Socks, tights or pop socks?

• Change daily to maintain good hygiene.

• Bamboo socks are great for the feet, these help to regulate the foot temperate, helps to remove sweat from the skin and the bamboo fibres within the socks have antimicrobial properties to reduce bacterial infections such as Athletes foot. Some man-made fibres in socks can make the feet sweaty.

• Check for seams in hosiery- these can rub the feet and toes causing calluses or corns and discomfort. If possible, wear socks/tights inside out. Make sure socks and tights do not crease in the shoes as this will also cause discomfort.

Health care for the lower limb and feet

• Tight socks or tights especially above the ankles/front of the leg can reduce circulation.

Movement and rest • Keep moving; go for a walk even around the house- this improves your circulation and keeps the joints moving.

• Raise the legs and feet when sitting as this helps to reduce swollen ankles. Try not to sit with the legs crossed as this also effects the circulation.

Amanda's Podiatry BSc (Hons) MChs HCPC Registered Podiatrist/Chiropodist

Office 5, Old Station House, Burntisland Tel: 07960 314061

www.amandaspodiatry.co.uk SUMMER 2019 | HOLISTIC SCOTLAND

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WIN A LUXURY PODICURE at Sole Body Soul, Dundee Give your feet the full works with a specialist medical pedicure – worth £67. Great for feet that have been hidden away in shoes and boots in the colder months and are ready to sparkle in the summer sandal season.

To be in with a chance of winning, send your name, address and telephone number to competitions@holisticscot.com with Sole Body Soul in the subject line by 12 noon on 31 July 2019.

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BODY CONFIDENCE

Dare to bare!

Columnist Pamela Spence helps us make the most of what we’ve got this Summer

S

ummer typically means most of the glossies are full of airbrushed pictures of gorgeous models in bikinis – lithe and tanned and leaving little to the imagination. But, if like most Scots, the idea of baring pale blue, slightly wobbly limbs sends a shudder down your spine, it’s time to get practical and give your body some serious TLC. Let’s embrace the warmer weather with all that we’ve got!

Body confidence is just that – confidence. It’s an attitude rather than real perfection and it pays to remember that we don’t have the luxury of a physical airbrush to take away our imperfections. We might not be perfect, but there are some actions you can take to make the best of what you’ve got.

that skin!

1 Brush Dry brushing helps stimulate the circulation, get rid of old skin cells and give skin a healthy glow. Always make sure strokes are towards the heart area so that you are working with, rather than against your body’s circulatory pattern. The brush will slough of dead skin cells, smoothing skin and helping get rid of mottled areas.

2 Nourish!

After your shower or bath, nourish the skin and bring it the moisture it needs to feel soft and smooth and banish flakiness. Thicker body 30

butters with oils like jojoba and sweet almond are great for this. Keep up the routine for a week or two and you will see a real difference. Adding essential oils such as lemon, grapefruit and juniper will harness their detoxifying abilities and can help to tackle cellulite too.

water, water.

3 Water, We simply can’t expect our bodies to function efficiently if they don’t have enough water to do the job. We all know that water is linked to better concentration, less fatigue and better transportation of toxins. Yet it’s amazing how many of us feel it is difficult to drink

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the recommended 2 litres a day. Top tips include filling a 2-litre bottle and leaving it by the kettle – swig it whenever you walk by and definitely when you put the kettle on for a cuppa. Swapping coffee and tea for herbal tea can also help to increase your water intake without caffeine’s diuretic effect. Choose herbs that will help you deal with any other symptoms: chamomile to support digestion and reduce stress, peppermint for nausea and nettle to provide extra vitamins and minerals. Remember you can drink herb teas cold too for a refreshing herbal tonic through the day.

more.

4 Move It’s true that movement and exercise helps increase endorphins – the feel-good brain chemicals. Parking further from the train, taking the stairs, making time for exercise all helps get our circulation moving and improve our mood. In turn we get more bodyconfidence.

those carbs!

5 Curb In the winter months we are more likely to reach for stodgy foods to keep us warm – and that is quite natural and sometimes necessary. But we both know that winter is a long time gone so if you are still hanging on to comfort foods, now is the time to ditch them in favour of fresh fruit, veg and salads.

There’s a lot you can do on your own to get you feeling more upbeat about a summer wardrobe. But if you have health conditions, are too fatigued to think about making changes, or if you feel like you need someone to cheer you on, medical herbalists can help put together a unique programme for you.

We can also prescribe herbal remedies such as burdock, iris and chickweed that may help you along the path of gentle detox. If you’re not sure where to start, or if you take prescription medication, book in to see your local medical herbalist for safe, expert advice. Then, let’s hit the beach!

Pamela Spence MNIMH is a medical herbalist based at The Carrick Clinic in Prestwick and the Paisley Natural Therapy Centre. She has had her own BBC online series, is regularly spotted in print and is the sole herbal advisor to Twinings International. Find out more at pamelaspence.co.uk To find a medical herbalist in your area go to www.nimh.org.uk

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WELLBEING

Yoga for life

Yoga is a discipline and spiritual practise that has captured the world’s attention since its inception in ancient India.

Lhve Yoga

F

ocusing on flexibility, strength, and breathing to encourage physical and mental wellbeing, yoga is not only good for aches and pains, but it’s also been proven to help people suffering from stress, anxiety and depression.

It’s well known for its ability to help promote relaxation and can help to lower high blood pressure and manage conditions such as diabetes, as well as strengthen the pelvic floor muscles to prevent incontinence.

A new book also reveals how yoga can help people living with respiratory illnesses, such as asthma and chronic bronchitis.

“The effects can literally be life-changing,” says Yoga for Asthma & Chronic Bronchitis author and ENT (ear, nose and throat) consultant, Dr Sood.

“There’s a growing universal interest in yoga and the reason is obvious. Everyone – whether they’re a factory or office worker, housewife, business executive, student or teacher – can benefit from yoga in their daily lives.”

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NEW TO CLASS? 1) Choose a yoga class that’s the right level for you e.g. beginner, intermediate or advanced 2) Wear clothing you can move around in, such as leggings, a vest and a layer on top in case you need it 3) Get there early to have a quick word with the yoga teacher about any injuries and ask any questions you may have 4) Place your yoga mat where you can clearly see the teacher. If you don’t have a mat of your own, most studios will have one that you can use 5) Don’t push yourself too hard. Yoga is a gentle exercise and should never result in pain.

Find a class, or list your own, using the MINDBODY app, available to download at mindbody.io

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PRO M OT I O NA L F E AT U R E

Keep moving this summer Modern Herbals’ award-winning Syno-Vital high strength hyaluronic acid can help promote healthy joints and keep you active all year-round.

As you get older, your joints can become stiff and painful, thereby limiting your mobility and causing frustration. But, don’t despair – research has shown that hyaluronic acid supplements can help.

WHAT IS HYALURONIC ACID? Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the body. It is a major component of synovial fluid, the lubricating material present in many joints, and as such, plays an important role in maintaining joint health.

With its high lubrication and cushioning effect, hyaluronic acid helps to reduce friction and resist compression, allowing joints to bear weight and withstand tension.

Although the body produces its own hyaluronic acid, this supply declines as we get older, causing joints to become stiff and painful.

HOW CAN SUPPLEMENTS HELP? Supplements such as the award-winning Syno-Vital from Modern Herbals help to restore the loss of this substance which is common with older age.

According to research, hyaluronic acid taken daily helps to rebuild the ‘pillow’ of fluid that cushions joints for up to 97 percent of people who try it, and some experts believe it may also stimulate the repair of joint cartilage.

Voted Best Vitamin, Mineral Supplement Product of the Year 2012, Syno-Vital Oral Hyaluronan is a natural,

liquid form of hyaluronic acid and has been found to help increase mobility and reduce pain and inflammation in patients with osteoarthritis.

The hyaluronic acid in Syno-Vital works in several ways – it helps to restore synovial fuid for improved mobility, prevents further degradation of joint tissues and has an antiinflammatory, analgesic effect too.

It can also provide improvement where glucosamine and chondroitin have failed to do so. As an added bonus, hyaluronic acid is extremely good for the skin and eyes.

So you can be agile and beautiful at the same time, naturally!

Call 0800 7310725 for more details. Available at all good health food stores.

Find out more at modernherbals.com

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PRO M OT I O NA L F E AT U R E

Wilding your psoas Shaped by personal, social, and global flows of information, our psoas responds to not only stress signals but also impulses that stir our hearts and resonate deep within our bones.

Like a tuning fork’s pure tone, psoas is in resonance with the wisdom of bone, vibrating the very essence of life and putting a bounce in our step.

As a core messenger, psoas signals skeletal and proprioceptive interruptions as well as exhausted, undeveloped, overwhelmed, and un-resilient nervous systems.

Respecting our biological intelligence, psoas emerges as a messenger that reveals deeply moving stories about compromise and sourcing as well as depletion and nourishment.

Nourishing psoas is a rewilding of biological expressions that offer a deeply felt-sensed renewal.

Landing on earth as newborns can be felt deep in our bones and continues to shape our flourishing gestures throughout our life.

This is an excerpt from Liz Koch’s new book, Stalking Wild Psoas: Embodying Your Core Intelligence. Find out more at coreawareness.com

July 30 & 31 BASIC Psoas Workshop with Liz Koch International Somatic Educator & Author of the Psoas Book Open to every body to experience how your Psoas affects your core integrity, health, movement, breath, and creative expression. A healthy Psoas brings a sense of wholeness and is a vital step toward resolving injury and trauma.

The Old Barn GLASGOW EARLY BIRD $420 USD

August 1-3 Stalking Wild Psoas: Womb to World With Liz Koch and Anna Verwaal This transformational opportunity focuses on the personal journey from womb to world. Both educational and exploratory, this workshop is for everyone seeking to understand, heal, and resolve their own birth imprints, couples planning to conceive and pregnant women wishing to give their baby an optimum start in life. Join Liz Koch and international educator Anna Verwaal and discover, integrate and revitalise the very core of your being.

The Old Barn GLASGOW EARLY BIRD $525 USD

DETAILS & REGISTRATION AT WWW.COREAWARENESS.COM 34

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Between 2 - 7 days Fresh vegetarian cuisine On-site masseuse

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SONOYOGA

RETREATS

Go with the flow

WHEREVER YOU ARE IN LIFE, TAKE TIME OUT TO DEDICATE TO YOU

Lhve Yoga

Struggling to sleep?

Yoga could be the answer If there’s one exercise or practise that can help to promote sleep, it’s yoga.

According to the Sleep Foundation, when people with insomnia perform yoga daily, they sleep for longer, fall asleep faster, and return to sleep more quickly.

Lisa Sanfilippo’s Sleep Recovery Yoga programme takes this theory one step further. Lisa, who has been researching and developing this field for more than 20 years, is a yoga for insomnia expert who is set to launch her first book, Yoga Therapy for Insomnia and Sleep Recovery, in Glasgow this June.

Lisa Sanfilippo

Andrea St Clair is one of Lisa’s graduates, who discovered first-hand how Yoga for Sleep can help to improve peoples’ lives. She now runs regular workshops and courses in Edinburgh to help people suffering from sleep issues and anxiety.

“Sleep issues and general anxiety were what initially attracted me to yoga as a young university student,” she says.

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“I’ve suffered with sleep issues at different times over the years and always found that yoga helped. When I turned 50 and struggled with hormones and my father’s death, I discovered Yoga Nidra, which gave me great relief – even from lack of sleep – and helped to balance my central nervous system.

Then, when I thought it couldn’t get any better, an email arrived out of the blue about a development course on yoga for insomnia. I knew I had to do this course, not only for myself, but because more and more of my yoga students were complaining of sleep issues.”

I soon discovered that Sleep Recovery Yoga is not about one particular style of yoga, but about understanding different yoga practises how to use them, with the help of sleep science, to promote better sleep, more rest and greater daytime alertness. The programme makes use of different aspects of yoga – not only poses, but breathing, meditation, restorative practises and yoga philosophy.

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These poses, such as the Thread the Needle and Pigeon, target big muscles around the hips and thighs to help release tension and bring energy downwards in the body, reducing wakeful activity in the head and shoulders.”

PIC CREDIT: Louise Thomas

The specific poses beneficial for sleep might depend on the particular sleep issue – whether it’s problems getting to sleep, waking in the night, being unable to get back to sleep, or just not feeling rested – but we do have a ‘Sleep Sequence’ and a ‘Deeper Sleep Sequence’ of yoga poses which are useful to do just before bed to promote better sleep.

Find out more at andreayogaedinburgh.co.uk or yogaforbettersleep.com

SUMMER 2019 | HOLISTIC SCOTLAND

37

WELLBEING

Taking yoga back to basics Zen yoga teacher Scott Hutchison-McDade encourages us to take our yoga practise outdoors and kiss the Earth with our feet.

For centuries, yoga was practised outside in the great outdoors. It’s only in recent years with Westernised styles of yoga becoming mainstream that we’ve started to associate it with climatecontrolled studios, shiny wooden floors and modern amenities.

Lhve Yoga

Yet it’s hard to step out of our comfort zones and find space and time in our busy lives to go outside and dedicate time to our practice. Because of the unpredictable Scottish weather, outdoor classes are few and far between.

But with summer in the air, there’s no time like the present to kick off your shoes and spend five minutes practising yoga in the great outdoors.

Connecting with nature Try going barefoot on a natural surface, such as grass or the earth. This helps bring a sense of deep connection between us and the world around us.

Practising yoga outdoors can be deeply healing for the mind and body. It helps bring about a sense of calm and helps us to feel grounded and present.

Five-minute grounding sequence This five-minute sequence doesn’t need any special equipment, props or clothing. Yoga teaches us to work in partnership with our mind and body. We never want to feel pain or discomfort, so make any adjustments according to your own personal range of movement and your physical limitations.

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For the duration of the practice, stand straight with legs together. Keep your knees soft, with your chin slightly raised.

Place your hands on your heart centre (centre of your chest), with your left hand on top. Close your eyes. Take 10 full breaths, inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth.

Spend a few moments checking in with your body. How do you feel physically? Acknowledge any feelings or sensations that arise.

Spend a few moments checking in with your mind. How do you feel mentally? Is your mind busy? Is it quiet? Is it somewhere in between?

Always remember that it’s okay not to be okay.

Part 1

Place your hands in prayer with thumbs against your breastbone. Slightly roll your shoulders back. Close your eyes and take 10 full breaths, inhaling through the nose and exhaling through your mouth.

Part 2

Place hands by your sides with palms facing forward.

Spread your fingers wide. Raise your chest slightly and roll your shoulders back. Take 10 full breaths, inhaling through the nose and exhaling through your mouth.

Part 3

Raise your arms above your head with palms facing in and your fingers spread wide. Roll your shoulders back. Take 10 full breaths, inhaling through the nose and exhaling through your mouth.

Part 4

Place your hands on your heart centre with left hand on top and lift your chin slightly. Roll your shoulders back and close your eyes.

Take 10 full breaths, inhaling through the nose and exhaling through your mouth. Spend a few moments checking in with your mind and body, acknowledging any feelings or sensations that arise. The sequence is now complete.

Part 5

Yoga under the stars Join Scott for Positive Change Yoga Under the Stars, a 24-hour camping yoga retreat in nature, nestled in the Fife countryside. Running from 12pm on August 3 till 12pm on August 4, 2019, we’ll be hosting yoga, meditation, crystal therapies, Shamanic drumming circles and sound healing. To top it all off, the retreat will be catered for with plant-based food by Kangus Coffee House.

For more information and to book, visit positivechangeyoga.com

SUMMER 2019 | HOLISTIC SCOTLAND

39

WELLBEING

How to be grateful Gratitude has become a bit of a buzzword lately but what exactly is it and how do you put it into practise? It can be daunting if you’re new to the idea, but life coach Iona Russell explains just how easy it is to get the hang of.

M

odern life is busy and hectic. It’s so hard to make time for everything, never mind taking time out for yourself.

But, this morning, as I sat at my desk writing away with a hot coffee to drink and uplifting music to sing along to, I felt the warm sun on my face, and couldn’t help feeling thankful and grateful for how all those things made me feel.

Smiling as I worked, I couldn’t imagine a better place to be in that moment.

through your nose and out through your mouth.

2.

Pause.

Look around for things to love and appreciate. Once you start to look for them, you’ll begin to see them everywhere in your life. From the song you sang along to, to the person who opened the door for you, or your child’s laughter, these moments happen everyday in your life. When you start to notice them, it will change

It might sound cliché, but gratitude really is about bringing our attention back to the simple things in life. Simple pleasures, when you stop and observe them, can improve anyone’s mood.

1.

Breathe.

If we bring everything back to our breath, we really can slow down and learn to appreciate more. When we hold our breath, or breathe quickly, we are only adding to anxieties or fear. Take three slow deep breaths whenever you find yourself ‘spiralling’. Just breathe in

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About Iona Russell Over the last 15 years, Iona, who is based in Edinburgh, has helped lots of people create their best lives. As well as coaching, she specialises in Kinetic Chain Release, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Hypnotherapy, Mindfulness, Pilates, Indian Head Massage and more. Visit her website at ionarussell.com

things for the better. If you’re a busy mum, maybe its something as simple as a hot cup of tea, or a hug from your kids.

Maybe, it’s as simple as being grateful for the clean bed sheets or soft pillow at the end of a hard day.

3.

Observe your thoughts.

Overthinking can lead to self-sabotage.

Too many of us spend too much time thinking about the past or the future, rather than being in the present moment.

When we overthink, we rarely envisage the best scenario. It’s your choice how you think and feel.

4.

Set the Intention.

Set the intention that you are going to have a good day, that travel plans will go well, the school run will be pleasurable and fun, and that your day will be full of interesting developments.

Focus on how you want your day to be and feel it.

5.

Thoughts turn into things.

Once you have set the intention to have a good day, being aware of your thoughts is the next step. If you are always viewing interactions from a place of love or gratitude, life becomes much simpler and lighter. It pays to always look on the bright side of life and keep your to-do list manageable.

Tomorrow is another day. Focus on getting a few key things done and you won’t feel disappointed or overwhelmed.

6.

Self-care.

This is a hot topic right now, because we very often forget to look after our own needs at a soul level. I don’t just mean drinking a hot cup of tea or running a hot bath (which I know are amazing ways to relax), but I making sure you are listening to your body and soul and scheduling something daily that lights you up inside. Whether that is paying it forward, such as helping someone else in need or dancing in your lounge, meeting with like-minded friends or getting out in nature, little and often is the key. Before you know, it will become part of your daily routine.

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H E A LT H

THE THERAPY THAT MAKES YOU DO ALL THE WORK It’s still a relatively new modality in the holistic world, but Bowen can work wonders to help relieve pain and restore natural balance, writes Janey Lee Grace

I

first encountered the Bowen technique nearly 20 years ago when I was seven months pregnant with my second son. I was feeling great and literally ‘blooming marvellous’ until back pain struck.

Midwives assured me it was common in pregnancy and would go away after the birth, but I didn’t fancy two months of mild agony.

But she explained that this treatment can take the body out of ‘fight or flight’ mode and take it towards a sleep state to allow it to start to repair.

I tried aromatherapy, saw an osteopath and a chiropractor but nothing helped.

Then I tried Bowen therapy – named after Tom Bowen, the Australian who devised it, initially as part of his work alongside osteopaths on horses.

Half an hour later, I was done. I had to walk around and drink lots of water.

Then something amazing happened.

Despite having limped down into the treatment room, I found I could literally leap back up the steps. It felt like a miracle.

As I lay fully clothed, the therapist gently ‘rolled’ and stimulated my muscles.

She explained that Bowen works by prompting your body to take action.

I was sceptical and when she left the room after only a few minutes to allow my body to ‘cook’ I wondered if there was a charlatan at work.

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Now I recommend Bowen to lots of people. I even won a live ‘bet’ with Tim Smith, my co-host on Radio 2. I told him that a session of Bowen would work for his tennis elbow and it did!

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Janey Lee Grace is an Amazon No. 1 best-selling author, commentator and co-presenter on BBC Radio 2’s Steve Right in the Afternoon. She has twice been voted the number one personality in the Natural Beauty Industry Yearbook and runs a busy recommendations website.

She has written five books on holistic living, including the Amazon No. 1 bestseller Imperfectly Natural Woman, writes columns, runs workshops and hosts the annual Janey Loves Platinum Awards to recognise the best in natural and organic products.

Since ditching the booze, Janey also runs Alcohol Free Life, a podcast focusing on sober self-care.

Visit Janey’s website at janeyleegrace.com

What is Bowen therapy?

Bowen is a soft tissue treatment which uses a series of ‘moves’ on different points of the body, to work with the connective tissue and relax the muscles, ligaments and tendons. This, in turn, allows them to find their correct length, and enables the body to find and regain its natural balance and function. The treatment influences the physical body, but also calms the nervous system and helps with hormonal imbalance.

“The beauty of the treatment is that it looks at the root cause of why you have the issue in the first place,” says Emma Ross, who is a Bowen therapist at Aberdeen Bowen Therapy.

“When you have mild aches and pains, it’s your body telling you it’s a bit out of balance. But you ignore it. Life adds some slips, trips or falls, and emotional and environmental factors to the mix, and then somewhere down the line, the body decides it pushed to the limit and you feel pain.”

Being non-invasive and with no strong manipulation, Bowen is suitable for everyone, from babies to the elderly and, of course, pregnant women. It seems to be able to help lots of physical issues, such as chronic pain, neck issues, sports related injuries, back and pelvic pain, TMJ (Temporo-Mandibular Joint) issues, and migraines.

It can also be beneficial for menopause symptoms, fertility, digestive problems (including colic in babies), anxiety and grief. There aren’t many therapies around that can cover such a broad range of ailments and it’s not something you usually need to do for any length of time.

Continued overleaf >

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“…Bowen treatment is an excellent self-care maintenance ‘treat’!”

“We generally look for responses and changes in the body after three to four sessions, but it’s a bespoke approach for each client,” says Emma.

“We may might find that with chronic, or longer-term issues we need six treatments or more.”

So, does Bowen work for everyone? Well, therapists tell me it’s not always a total cure, but most people find their symptoms are alleviated to some extent. One thing for sure is, in the hands of a good therapist, it won’t cause any harm.

Many of us forget the importance of self-care and ‘maintenance’. We regularly take our car to the garage for a service. We don’t forget to top it up with fuel and, of course, the MOT is compulsory. But it’s just as important to recognise that our body needs this regular care too – and a Bowen treatment is an excellent self-care maintenance ‘treat’!

Once you have had Bowen therapy, you will become more aware of your own alignment. Then you will start to feel when your body is going out of sync and that’s when (if you haven’t booked in for your MOT) it may be time to give your therapist a phone.

To find out more about Bowen therapy, go to aberdeenbowen.co.uk or, to find a practitioner in your area, visit thebowentechnique.com 44

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PRO M OT I O NA L F E AT U R E

The

Happiness Programme Breathe, meditate and connect with your inner self

Have you noticed that your breathing pattern changes with your state of mind? It can be short and fast when we’re angry, but barely noticeable when we’re happy.

Our breath and our emotions are linked and this is an often under-rated tool that can be used to manage our minds better.

Our breath is a source of energy and carries the vital life force in our body known as ‘prana’ in Sanskrit.

Sudarshan Kriya is a powerful rhythmic breathing technique that increases our prana and eliminates stress.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (right), spiritual ambassador and founder of the Art of Living, a global humanitarian and educational organisation, came up with the technique 35 years ago.

Today it is practised in more than 160 countries around the world, by millions of people who have benefited from this and other life changing courses run by the Art of Living.

Through the purifying action of the breath, Sudarshan kriya gives us “a true vision of who we are” and forms the centrepiece of the Happiness Programme, a ninehour transformational workshop that spans three hours a day over three consecutive days combining yoga, meditation, practical wisdom and powerful yet simple breathing techniques.

The course includes a take-home practice that you can incorporate into your daily life.

Regular practice of Sudarshan kriya has been shown to improve life satisfaction and sleep quality, reduce anxiety, raise energy and increase clarity of mind.

Scientifically backed research has shown there is enhancement of immune function and a reduction in stress hormone levels and depression.

Take the Art of Living HAPPINESS PROGRAMME and make your way to a happy and healthy you!

Courses run throughout the year in cities across Scotland. scotland@uk.artofliving.org https://www.artofliving.org/uk-en/ scotland-region facebook.com/ArtOfLivingScotland

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PRO M OT I O NA L F E AT U R E

Adventures in Expanded States of Consciousness Holotropic breathwork can be a powerful way to explore the healing potential of expanded states of consciousness, writes Mark Baugh

F

or thousands of years mankind has entered into Expanded States of Consciousness (ESC) in different ways, in different cultures around the globe. Why? For the purpose of allowing content of the unconscious inner realms to emerge, opening up to new insights and creating meaning of life’s challenges. Not only for the benefit of individuals but also for the benefit of the tribe, thus exploring more appropriate and joyful ways of being in the world.

The ways in which indigenous people have and do enter into ESC varies from fasting, sleep deprivation, bodywork like vigorous shaking or dancing or whirling (think of the whirling dervishes), forms of meditation or prayer, ingesting plant medicines such as peyote, ayahuasca, Cacao or Ibogaine to something as simple as using the breath – whose rhythms and depths is deeply linked with ESC whatever the method.

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The idea behind using these different methods to enter into ESC is to allow the ego to take a step back. When the strength and rigidity of the ego is reduced it allows for a flow of insights and new ways of being. Your conscious mind can meet unconscious aspects of itself with the result of greater integration and moving towards wholeness.

The effectiveness of different methods to enter an ESC will depend on your mind-set as an individual and on the physical, environmental and social context for the experience.

Bringing curiosity, an open mind, as well as an intention and being in touch with an inner questioning, facilitates an ESC. What also enhances the experience is a safe group environment held by those who have done this inner journeying before and are suitably trained to support others in doing theirs.

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Intentional journeying into ESC in a safe setting holds the possibility of unleashing one’s creative potential and for the healing of past wounds and trauma. It’s incredibly self-empowering because rather than someone doing something to or for you from the outside, it all comes from the inside – you really do have all you need within to be the person you are meant to be.

Holotropic Breathwork uses breath, music and a supportive environment to enter into an ESC. Holotropic means moving towards wholeness and this type of breathwork does not rely on talking, intellectual processes or substances. It was developed in the 60’s and 70’s by Stanislav & Christina Grof following research in the US into the potential healing properties of mind altering ergotamines. Through his work Grof became one of the founding fathers of Transpersonal Psychology.

Caledonian Holotropic is offering Holotropic Breathwork at Cherry Tree Lodge, a homely retreat centre nestled in the stunning landscape of the West of Fife.

To find out more, contact Mark Baugh of Caledonian Holotropic on 07940 421038 or 01383 851059 or at caledonianholotropic@gmail.com

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WELLBEING

Ceremonies for the st 21 Century Columnist Marie O’Neill isn’t just a coach and counsellor, but a celebrant who helps people mark the most important transitions in their lives.

A

s human beings, we have engaged in ceremony since the beginning of time. It’s as if we have a fundamental need to honour life and mark transitions and major events.

And, of course, we do this by coming together to share in some sort of ritual or celebration.

Historically, this need has been filled by religion. But, in an increasingly secular world, lots of people choose not to belong to any faith or religious institution.

or existential values and beliefs through more flexible ceremonies.

As an interfaith celebrant, my work is about creating ceremonies for people of all faiths and none. It’s about helping people celebrate big life events in a way that feels authentic and inclusive to everyone involved.

Drawing on inspiration from ancient and modern traditions, I help to create ceremonies which are completely bespoke.

Yet whether we identify as atheist, agnostic or spiritual, we all have a need for ceremony to bring meaning to our lives.

I meet people where they are and create services which allow everyone to unfold into their own truth and deeper meaning.

With globalisation and families now comprising mixed faith backgrounds, people are looking for new, modern ways to express their most heartfelt, spiritual

It gives me such joy to be able to hold ceremonies which are completely bespoke to help express people’s deepest truths and feelings, whatever the occasion.

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FUNERALS

WEDDINGS I create every wedding ceremony from scratch so that each one is unique and personal.

I help couples choose their words, rituals, readings and music to express what they want to express. Many people choose to incorporate ancient traditions such as hand-fasting, drinking from a quaich, or lighting a unity candle to create a visual representation of their union.

Funerals are often emotionally difficult yet very healing experiences. It’s important to be able to speak about all aspects of grief, to honour and celebrate the departed and to be given an opportunity to say goodbye in a way that feels right to every individual. Using an interfaith approach, I incorporate the beliefs which are important to the deceased and to those who have loved and lost.

BABY NAMINGS A baby naming ceremony is an opportunity to welcome a new baby into the family and into the world. It’s a chance to come together to shower the new baby with blessings and for the parents to make a commitment to their baby.

OTHER CEREMONIES I offer a range of other services to suit different occasions, which many people feel important to mark: • Memorials of important anniversaries • Rites of passage / coming of age ceremonies or for marking a particular milestone • Blessings for new mums who want to honour their transition into motherhood • Divorce ceremonies to absolve couples of their vows and state their decision to end a relationship • Blessings for families of fostered or adopted children, where the entire family are joined together in their love for one another and celebrate how they came to be a family unit • Funerals for babies lost through stillbirth or miscarriage

Marie O’Neill is a counsellor and mindfulness coach, who specialises in health, wellbeing, and personal development. She is based at Calm on Canning Street in Edinburgh and offers one-to-one sessions, courses and workshops.

Find out more at trueconnection.co.uk

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WELLBEING

Core Energy Cleansing - The Ancient Art Of Healing

By understanding and nourishing our core energy systems, we can become the best possible version of ourselves and live our best lives, writes Heather McCabe of the Complementary Healthcare & Wellness Centre in Falkirk

C

ore energy is the very essence of life itself. Core energy is our spirit, or soul. It’s the energy source within our bodies that makes us who and what we are and, in many ways, defines our purpose in life.

It also helps to influence the decisions and choices we make and is one of the most important energies we have, if not the most important.

It’s the energy that starts and fuels our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual energy each day. Yet most people know very little about it.

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Understanding your core energy can help you: • Define your purpose • Understand your unique life essence • Know your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs • Feel inspired and see the value in yourself and others • Boost your emotional energy for personal and business relationships and personal or self-development • Have more energy to complete both daily and life goals • Maintain focus and structure

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The Ancient Art of Healing.

“Learn how to see. Realise that everything connects to everything else.”

LEONARDO DA VINCI

Positive core energy can also help to prevent self-punishment, self-criticism and self-sabotage; comparing ourselves to others in a negative way, and negative attitudes towards ourselves and others.

HOW IT WORKS Core energy cleansing can give you a better understanding of how and why you may be hurting or affecting yourself physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually.

It can create relaxation within and reduce stress and anxiety levels and help break cycles of dependency or addictive behaviours.

“As a natural healer and clairvoyant, I was fortunate to have many gifts – with the ability to heal myself and others.

“But I wanted to acquire the knowledge to be able to help others achieve their true potential and everything they aspire to be.

“I sought answers about myself and how energy affected myself and others.

Realising that with low or negative energy, we can’t achieve what we really want.

“I made it my goal to discover what makes energy, both positive and negative, within us and how to maximise the positive energy to help us drive forward with all that we want to achieve in life.

Core energy cleansing removes negative core energy blocks that can stop you focusing and achieving, and adjusts the flow of energy to your body systems – bringing your body into inner and outer balance.

“On this journey I discovered that many of the natural healers and gifted people I encountered all over the world had just as many questions as answers relating to the energy systems they used and the healing techniques and abilities they used to heal others.

It can also help you to sleep and rest better by making sure your energy levels get an opportunity to recharge. In turn, this can help to accelerate healing, increase creativity and support physical, mental, emotional and spiritual growth.

“They wanted to know: Could we combine our shared knowledge into one energy system to better understand our energy needs?

“More than 30 years ago, I embarked on a journey to learn about inner energy and the energy sources and systems in our bodies,” says Chad McCrae (below), co-founder of Core Energy Cleansing and

“Could there be a more simplistic approach, incorporating the ancient traditions and teachings and utilising our modern understandings?

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Continued overleaf >

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“Is there an inner energy system that we are not familiar with or do not know of as yet?

opinion, they never tell the full story and have often been diluted over time.

“Could we improve our own personal and selfdevelopment if we had a better understanding of our energy and energy sources?

“I discovered that – by combining lots of ancient techniques, from Egypt, India, America, Greece, the Middle East, Africa, China and Columbia – our inner core energy system can be harnessed and used to maximise our full core energy power.

“Of course, the answer is yes to all of the above.

Everything we teach and pass down is for the greater good.

“One of the most difficult things I had to overcome is that most cultures passed down its most valuable and effective teachings through word of mouth and demonstration only.

“Chad helped me to put all of the pieces of my jigsaw together about what I knew about energy and my journey”

“Of course, there’s knowledge in books and scripture and there are lots of courses available. But, in my

“This, in turn, maximises all the energy systems in our bodies to release an even more powerful energy within.

“I humbly believe I have found the most comprehensive learning techniques and combined them to harness the inner power of our own core energy systems.”

To find out more, or to book a course, go to coreenergycleansing.com 52

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B E AU T Y

Natural beauty Beauty editor Karen Gider shares her top tips for looking good without compromising who you really are.

If you feel you’re constantly fighting the ageing process and are looking for magic potions to make you appear more youthful, or even thinking about invasive procedures to alter your appearance, you’re not alone.

It’s a common worry, but your face and body tell the story of your life. It’s all about you and how people relate to and understand you.

I suppose the big question is, how can you age gracefully while being your natural self? How can you project your inner beauty to the outside world?

Here are my 6 top tips to guide you: • BE ACTIVE IN YOUR DAILY LIFE. Gentle walking will tone your whole body. Practise meditation to calm your inner self and help you gain outer strength. Join local yoga classes to help align your spine and control your breathing to help pave the way for a new pace of life.

• TRANSFORM YOUR STYLE AND APPEARANCE BY OPTING FOR BRIGHTLY COLOURED OUTFITS THAT LIFT YOUR MOOD AND SPIRIT Reinvent yourself with a trendy haircut and even embrace “the grey”, which has become the latest trend.

• LOOK AT YOUR FACE IN A POSITIVE WAY What do you love about yourself? What would you like to improve? Instead of opting for Botox, which we know is a toxin, consider some Face Yoga lessons and learn facial exercises to lift and tone your face and diminish fine lines.

• MASSAGE YOUR FACE EVERY DAY USING ORGANIC OIL Apply before bed to allow the essential ingredients to absorb into the skin’s surface. Regular facial massage will kick start the blood circulation, giving the skin a rosy glow and release any tension and tightness caused by stress.

• BOOK AN APPOINTMENT WITH A COSMETIC CONSULTANT They will teach you the beauty industry’s secrets for mature skin.

• TREAT YOURSELF TO SKIN PRODUCTS THAT WILL MAKE YOUR SKIN GLOW Love yourself and remember…

“Old age does not protect from love, but love protects from old age” COCO CHANEL

Follow Karen on social for more natural beauty tips.

facebook.com/ FACEYOGAINSCOTLAND

Instagram.com/face_yoga_ scotland

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B E AU T Y

Your anti-ageing toolkit Tasha D’Cruz, CNM (College of Naturopathic Medicine) Natural Chef and Nutritional Therapist, shares her secrets CHOOSE EFFECTIVE, ANTI-AGING NOURISHMENT:

1

Colourful vegetables

offer vital nutrients, including antioxidants. Leafy greens, pumpkin and sweet potato strengthen immunity; berries, onions and legumes deter allergies and viruses; broccoli and cauliflower support the liver; celery aids bone health.

2

Food Prep: Pot-roast, braise,

marinade, slow cook. Frying or grilling produce harmful, possibly carcinogenic, age-accelerating compounds.

3

Sugar: Refined sugars and

carbs are implicated in obesity, diabetes and heart disease. The longest-living communities on Earth consume minimal sugars or refined carbohydrates.

4

Good fats combat disease-

5

Protein: Muscle wastage

6

Green Tea: Plant chemicals

7

Water: We’re around 70%

causing chronic inflammation.

Oily fish, nuts, seeds, coconut oil, lard, goose fat, butter, ghee are crucial for cell and brain health and smoother skin.

Avoid trans-fats, refined or hydrogenated vegetable oils and margarines. happens in elderly people with low protein/low activity levels.

Critical to cellular, enzyme, hormone and muscle health, good protein sources include legumes, organic, free-range eggs, wild fish and grass-fed meat. in green tea and the skin of red grapes and mulberries are central to cell longevity. water; every cell and body function needs it. Regularly hydrate with pure, filtered, unflavoured water.

CNM trains students for successful careers in natural therapies in colleges across the UK and Ireland and online. Visit naturopathy-uk.com 54

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Honey, I’m home When two scientists swapped their busy 9 to 5 lives in the South of England for a more laid-back lifestyle in the Scottish Highlands, the Highland Wax Company was born. A decade, two children and 20 colonies of honeybee later, the business is going from strength to strength.

T

en years ago, Mary-Ann and Stuart Thompson left behind a hectic life working as pharmaceutical scientists in the South East of England to move to the Scottish Highlands. To facilitate this they re-trained – with Mary-Ann becoming a sports and remedial massage therapist and Stuart a forester.

Mary-Ann quickly developed a successful therapy practice, working from home in Nairn, while Stuart covered the North Scotland conducting forest surveys. Settling into rural life in Nairn they also expanded their family, and are now kept busy with three young children.

One day, while working on a client, Mary-Ann realised she wanted to make her own massage wax. Using their scientific skills, Stuart and Mary-Ann were able to develop a range of massage wax products using a variety of oils and beeswax. Mary-Ann and Stuart also embarked on a journey to become beekeepers. After all, sourcing their own quality raw materials was important, so what could be better than being able to produce their own beeswax?

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Starting to keep bees was a very steep learning curve, but with some excellent training and mentorship from Nairn Beekeepers association, soon Mary-Ann and Stuart had expanded from 1 hive of bees to 4 within the first couple of months!

Honeybees are a very important part of our ecology, pollinating many different plants including lots of our food. Unfortunately, due to the spread of certain pests and diseases, colonies of wild honeybees are unlikely to survive, so beekeepers play an important role in their continued existence.

Also important are the many other species of pollinators such as bumblebees, solitary bees, wasps, and butterflies.

Everyone can help by planting flowers and trees, letting their lawn grow longer - leaving the dandelions and clover for the insects, and buying organic produce.

Highland Wax Company started business in 2014 and has steadily grown.

Sustainability is at the core of the business, and from the outset Mary-Ann and Stuart have avoided using plastics where possible, instead opting for more environmentally friendly options.

As the company has grown, demand for beeswax has outstripped what they were able to obtain from their own hives (unless they became full time beekeepers). To supplement the wax 56

from Stuart and Mary-Ann’s own hives, the Highland Wax Company also source high quality beeswax produced by other Scottish Beekeepers.

With their own beeswax to hand and plenty of inspiration the Highland Wax Company developed a range of massage waxes, using a range of different oils (avoiding nut oils due to allergy concerns). The original range consists of 6 blended massage waxes and 2 unscented versions. One of the unscented products, the Be Sensitive massage wax keeps things simple containing only beeswax, olive oil and vitamin E oil. As a consequence, Be Sensitive is ideal for baby or pregnancy massage and has been positively received by those with very sensitive skin and those suffering with dry skin conditions.

The blended massage waxes have scents to suit everyone. There are relaxing blends - Be Chilled (Patchouli & Ylang Ylang) and Be Serene (Lavender), uplifting blends such as Be Revived (citrus) and Be Wild (Eucalyptus and Cypress). There is even one, Be Sporty, blended with essential oils which aid recovery from tired and aching muscles (Rosemary, marjoram and juniperberry).

All of Highland Wax Company’s massage waxes are also suitable to be used on any part of the body as a hydrating skin conditioner. Beeswax has amazing

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natural properties which make it ideal for moisturising, nourishing and protecting the skin.

Further massage products have been added to the range including a thicker massage wax, called ProGrip, which can be used for deep tissue massage techniques and reflexology.

Once establishing their Massage Wax range, MaryAnn and Stuart continued to develop their natural product range, all with sustainability and quality at the heart of development. All of these products are 100% natural.

The range of lip balms are made without the use of cocoa butter (which actually dries the lips of some people), and come in 3 amazing flavours – zingy peppermint, sweet honey or fruity bramble (blackberry).

Also available are a duo of salt scrubs, combining Scottish beeswax with shea butter, cocoa butter, peach kernel oil and vitamin E oil with a range of essential oils. These scrubs are a luxurious treat, exfoliating the skin, using large chunky sea salt crystals and leaving skin incredibly nourished and moisturised.

Mary-Ann is a bit(!) of a fan of Outlander, having read the whole series of novels before the first mention of a TV series.

This led to the creation of a skin balm based on a recipe in one of the novels made by Claire Fraser, herself a beekeeper in the novel. Claire’s Balm is a herbal healing skin balm combining Yarrow, Bog Myrtle, Elderflower and Comfrey.

The latest product to be developed is Highlander’s Balm – this skin balm is very hydrating and nourishing due to its mix of beeswax, shea butter, cocoa butter and peach kernel oil.

Combined with essential oils of Cypress, Eucalyptus, Tangerine and Marjoram this balm is ideal for rubbing into a beard, stopping chafing, or generally moisturising anywhere that needs it.

At the heart of Highland Wax Company, Mary-Ann and Stuart have a passion to make a positive impact in their local area of the Highlands, and hopefully beyond. As well as growing the company and adding further products, they are involved in helping others learn about bees and pollinators giving talks to schools, youth and adult groups, and also involved in the conservation of native Scottish honeybees. They also have plans to continue to expand the number of hives they manage. Currently they run around 20 colonies of honeybees in 5 apiaries around Nairnshire.

Find out more at highlandwax.co.uk

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FOOD

Summer Soups Soups are a great way to pack in lots of healthy fruit and veg all year round. In his latest book, Fraser Reid of Fraser’s Fruit and Veg in Dundee reveals which soups are best for which season, along with a recipe for every week of the year.

CREAMY COURGETTE, CASHEW & MIXED HERB Serves 4 and This soup is light, incredibly smooth ed. creamy, and can be enjoyed hot or chill You will need: 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter 1, peeled and roughly chopped onion 2 cloves, peeled and finely chopped garlic t 1 large, peeled and roughly chopped carro 2 or 3, roughly chopped courgettes 50g unsalted cashew nuts s) fresh A handful (or 1 teaspoon dried mixed herb mixed herbs 2 stock cubes taste Salt and freshly ground black pepper to ium-low heat.

Heat the oil or butter in a pot on a med tes until they Fry the onion and garlic for 5–10 minu are soft but not coloured. and mixed herbs Add the carrots, courgettes, cashews her. toget g ythin ever ng to the pot, mixi ble in the Pour in 1.2 litres of boiling water, crum the heat and ce Redu boil. the to stock cubes and bring simmer for 20 minutes. for a silkyBlend the soup for at least 3 minutes . taste to n seaso and h finis th smoo

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A soup for all seasons Seasonal Soups by Fraser Reid is packed with 52 mouth-watering vegan recipes and is available to buy at amazon.co.uk

4 PEA & MINT Serves change one soup – why try and The classic summer tches in the world? of the best flavour ma You will need: or butter 1 tablespoon olive oil ion on ed dic d 1, peeled an ery cel ed 1 stick, dic rot 1, peeled and diced car ely chopped garlic fin d an led pee , ves 2 clo s pea 500g (podded weight) fresh mint (or a teaspoon of dried) ed pp a handful, finely cho 1 stock cube d black pepper to taste celery, Salt and freshly groun then add the onion, a medium-low heat, er ov t po a in r tte until soft.

Heat the oil or bu fry for 5–10 minutes d the crumbled carrot and garlic and e of boiling water an heat and simmer litr a d ad n the d an nt, the mi Stir in the peas and and then turn down ery thing to the boil, stock cube. Bring ev for 15 minutes. nd until smooth.

Season to taste and ble

PLUM TOMATO, ORZO & OREGANO SOUP Serves 4 This is like posh spaghetti hoops and doesn ’t take longer than opening the tin and heating them much up either.

You will need: 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter 1 onion, peeled and diced into 2cm cubes 2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped 1 carrot, peeled and diced into 2cm cubes 1 celery stick, finely chopped 5 plum tomatoes, roughly chopped 100g orzo 1 teaspoon fresh oregano, chopped (or 1 teaspo on dried) 2 stock cubes Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste Heat a pot on a medium heat and add the oil or butter.

Fry the onion, garlic, carrot and celery for 5–10 minutes until they soften.

Add the roughly chopped tomatoes along with the orzo and oregano and mix every thing together.

Pour in 1.2 litres of boiling water, crumble in the stock cubes and bring to the boil. Then turn down the heat and simm er for 15 minutes.

Season to taste before serving.

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FOOD

Where we’re eating...

Kangus Coffee House, Kirkcaldy This super-chilled vegan-veggie coffee house is always developing exciting, new plant-based dishes. Specialities include cakes, soups, stews and K-Dogs, along with a laid-back, friendly vibe.

We can recommend the KC Squared Breakfast Bagel!

Find out more at facebook.com/kanguscoffeehouse

What we’re eating...

Coco Mylk Ombar Buttons Ombar’s delicious vegan, raw cacao buttons are packed with anti-oxidants and indulgent coconut cream.

100% natural, they’re perfect for packing in lunchboxes.

Available at selected independent health stores.

Hand Crafted Gourmet Round-Ups Ananda Foods’ take on the traditional Wagon Wheel is this vegan alternative which is, of course, plant-based and gelatine free. Incredibly rich, they’re the perfect partner to a cup of tea. Shop the range at anandafoods.co.uk

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IS HEMP THE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING?

H

emp has been hailed as holding the answer to just about every problem known to man.

It can be found in lots things, from sustainable construction materials and clothing, to milk alternatives and beauty products.

It’s been touted as a paper alternative which could put an end to deforestation and its healing power is just coming to the fore.

“Hemp can also make superior paper. The only thing holding back mass hemp paper production today is the manufacturing cost.

Sadly, cost is king in a capitalist society.

“From nutrition to building materials, hemp has it all. It doesn’t mean it’s the answer to everything, but it certainly has the answers to a lot of questions.”

“I don’t know if hemp is going to save the world, but it’s the only thing that can”

Humans are ingenious animals and cannabis is an incredibly versatile resource,” says Dan Collins of Edinburghbased social enterprise Hemp.

Its popularity is soaring, so why is there still so much controversary? Why is hemp not being more “We were made for each JACK HERER widely used by industry other. and why are GPs reluctant to prescribe it?

“Hemp seeds have an ideal balance of We turned to the experts to find out.

Omegas 3&6 and contain all the essential “Hemp is an extremely durable plant and was amino acids our bodies need to make one of humanity’s earliest cultivated crops,” protein. says Niall Hope of Hope CBD in Hamilton.

“Hemp produces long, strong fibres ideal for “It was used widely in ancient times – all making cloth, rope and paper. Once you’ve the way up to the 1900s – then “marijuana” removed the fibre, the remaining material prohibition struck like lightening. can be used to make bio-degradable plastic, building materials and even dynamite.

“Henry Ford created a car from hemp. You can find footage of him rattling one of the “It’s a resilient plant that needs no pesticides hemp window panels with a sledgehammer and with thousands of varieties of the time after time and it just bounces back species available, cannabis can adapt to stronger than steel. almost any environment. It grows quickly, doesn’t demand too much from the farmer “Large car manufacturers are regular and puts nutrients back into the soil, as well customers of hemp farms and are creating as removing more than its fair share of superior products with hemp at fraction of carbon dioxide from the air. the cost.

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Simone Wolda (pictured below), who is an ambassador for Kannaway, says CBD has changed her life.

“I first bought CBD for my husband, who has ADHD (Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder). I had researched it thoroughly and found it helped people with the anxiety associated with ADHD. But he was incredibly sceptical and reluctant to try it.

Edinburgh-based social enterprise Hemp “As if that wasn’t enough, cannabis and hemp plants produce cannabinoids. To be fair, lots of plants produce cannabinoids, but cannabis does it best. Your body uses its own cannabinoids to regulate a wide variety of physiological and cognitive functions.

“Using hemp and cannabis, we can top up our endocannabinoid system when its running low. We have millions, maybe billions of receptors primed to use the chemicals in the cannabis plant. In fact, humans have used it as a medical resource for millennia.”

“It was sitting there unused for a couple of months, so I did some more research and discovered how many other things it was good for. I realised it could help with insomnia and depression. Three months prior to this, I had given birth to my third child and suffered badly with postpartum anxiety. It was something I hadn’t experienced before and was prescribed anti-depressants by my GP. “I hated the idea and was embarrassed about being on prescription medication, so I thought I’d try CBD. “I took it for the first time and couldn’t believe it. I slept like a baby. After a couple of weeks, I stopped taking the antidepressants and haven’t looked back.”

Have you considered starting your own hemp business?

PROVIDING HEMP EDUCATION & WELLBEING PRODUCTS TO YOUR COMMUNITY, FRIENDS & FAMILY? Ve r y a ff o r d a bl e s t ar t- u p c o s t - e xc e ll e n t retur n o n i nve s tme nt p r e s c ri p t i o n q u a l it y p ro d u c ts - gre a t s uppo rt ne tw o rk

www.healthwealthwellbeing.co.uk SUMMER 2019 | HOLISTIC SCOTLAND

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Can hemp really heal?

Emma O’Neil of #Organics explains the science behind CBD and talks about her own healing experience.

The endocannabinoid system was discovered less than 30 years ago and is one of the body’s major organ systems – responsible for regulating the body and maintaining homeostasis, or internal stability. Essentially, it’s the body’s internal balancing mechanism.

Although #Organics can’t make any medical claims about the benefits of CBD, which is currently classed in the UK as a food supplement, I can vouch for its benefits.

The endocannabinoid system is not an isolated structural system like the circulatory or nervous systems. It’s more dispersed, with receptor sites throughout the body and on every major organ – a bit like docking stations for cannabinoids (e.g. CBD).

With receptors throughout the body, it helps to regulate appetite, metabolism, immunity, inflammation, mental health, sleep, pain sensitivity, memory and more.

CBD itself doesn’t trigger receptors in the endocannabinoid system, as other cannabinoids do, but it modifies the receptors to enhance the way they bind to other cannabinoids.

It also helps to boost the levels of cannabinoids in the endocannabinoid system by helping the receptors absorb more of the body’s own natural cannabinoids which, in turn, helps the endocannabinoid system promote a state of balance.

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My personal battle with an eating disorder left me with osteoporosis of the hip, as well as osteopenia in the spine, which led to chronic pain in both areas. I also suffer from knee pain.

But by topping up my body with hempbased cannabinoids (CBD oil), I really feel the benefits, which I believe are linked to regulating the processes of the endocannabinoid system.

CBD is now a fundamental part of my daily routine. I believe taking it daily helps me function better physically without the previous constant, nagging pain.

I’ve also noticed a new calm which has replaced the anxiety I’ve struggled to cope with for more than 15 years. My ability to deal with stress has massively improved too. #Organics is developing a new product aimed at the female market – partly because many of the CB1 and CB2 receptors that make up the endocannabinoid system are found in the female reproductive organs.

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CBD best buys

Hemp or CBD – what’s the difference?

Hope CBD Evening Tea

Hemp is essentially the seed of the cannabis plant, while CBD oil is extracted from the aerial parts of the plant, such as the flower, stalk and stem.

These CBD-infused tea bags contain a relaxing blend of ingredients to help you unwind from the stresses of the day. Shop at hopecbd.com

Stimulation of the endocannabinoid system has been linked to improving PMS, fertility, menopause, hormone balance, and skin conditions. It’s a natural fit.

All #Organics products are 100% organic, non-GMO, ethically sourced, and suitable for vegetarians and vegans. They are 100% THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)free, meaning they are safe and legal to use in the UK and won’t get you high.

In January 2018, the World Anti-Doping Agency removed CBD from their list of banned substances.

So, no matter what you do, whether you’re an athlete or an accountant, #Organics products won’t show up on a drugs test or negatively affect your job.

Find out more at hashtagorganics.co.uk

DON’T MISS

The CBD Kitchen by Leah Vanderveldt Nutrition expert Leah Vanderveldt shares how CBD has helped her remedy anxiety, pain and disturbed sleep. Her book tells you everything you need to know about taking CBD, including how to cook with it. For more, head to rylandpeters.com

Balmonds Skin Salvation This little pot of goodness is a fantastic allrounder for all sorts of skin emergencies, from nappy rash to tattoo aftercare! Pick up a pot at balmonds.co.uk

The Hemp & CBD Expo at Birmingham NEC on 14 & 15 September 2019. Find out more at hempandcbdexpo.co.uk SUMMER 2019 | HOLISTIC SCOTLAND

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Why are patients not being allowed cannabis?

Legal cannabis is here, but why are so many physicians reluctant to prescribe it? asks Suzanne Kelly, director of the Scottish Cannabis Oil Assistance Programme (SCOAP)

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COAP set out to help people buy CBD oil when it became legal.

We were shocked at the cost of high-quality oil, which put CBD out of reach of people who came to us for help.

People who had tried cannabis and CBD oil for a range of diseases, from epilepsy to cancer, had written to us. They knew cannabis and/or CBD eased their symptoms, but they couldn’t afford to buy it.

So SCOAP started taking donations and the directors, including myself, chipped in to buy CBD oil.

We thought that, as the mounting evidence for the efficacy of cannabis products increased and as the NHS was finally allowed to prescribe cannabis and CBD oil, those in need would be helped. But we were, very naively, wrong.

It’s hard to describe the desperation of some of the people who get in touch with us.

Knowing they are allowed medical cannabis or CBD oil, they go to their GPs and, almost without exception, are turned down.

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ABOUT SCOAP They’re turned away by doctors who say they have no idea it’s available on prescription. Some are told it’s useless. Their personal experiences, such as having fewer seizures, less nausea or some form of respite from fibromyalgia, are often dismissed outright.

“I’m in so much pain I can’t do anything,” says one writer, who feels ignored and has asked SCOAP to share their thoughts.

“I’m beyond desperate now and, to be honest, the only thing keeping me here is my dog. My back is worsening and has spread to my right hip and not one GP cares.

Take more top-ups of oxy is all I’m told.

“The so-called legislation is worthless. They’d rather pay for us to be addicts and poison us than help us. Sorry, but I’m at my wits end in pain just now and fed up of my life.”

SCOAP is run by laymen, not doctors, but we can’t see any harm in giving cannabis to people who are terminally ill, or allowing people who want to get off opioid pain relief to try cannabis instead.

We believe the field of medical cannabis and CBD oil suppliers must be opened up and it must become easier to get a prescription.

SCOAP (Scottish Cannabis Oil Assistance Programme) is Scotland’s first official cannabis and CBD charity.

The organisation no longer buys CBD products for people but is lobbying hard to open minds and get patients’ rights respected.

Its mission is to make sure people who benefit from medical cannabis or CBD can get it on prescription.

Find out more at scoap.yolasite.com or get in touch at scoap. info@gmail.com

Those who want and need medical cannabis must have their quality of life and rights respected. It’s 2019, not 1928.

The science bit A 2015 study published by CLEAR Cannabis Law Reform concluded that cannabis clearly offers significant therapeutic benefits for a wide range of conditions without substantial risks or unmanageable side effects.

It found that regular, moderate use of cannabis can help to delay the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurogenerative conditions.

It also reported that the palliative value of cannabis can be of great benefit to cancer patients and how it can help to treat chronic pain, Crohn’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis.

Visit clear-uk.org for more.

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Working out how much CBD is right for you…

Understanding what you’re getting and working out how much you should take can be very confusing when it comes to CBD.

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here are so many variables, but the good news is that there’s no record of anyone suffering by taking too much. Still, a good quality, organic CBD product is likely to be expensive, so you don’t want to waste it, either.

One of the issues is that everyone has a different level of cannabinoid deficiency and a whole range of factors can influence the effect that CBD may have on our bodies.

These include age, weight, diet, exercise regime and metabolism as well as our CBD tolerance. We must also take into consideration what conditions or diseases we may have as well as what other medication we might be taking.

“The truth is that everyone’s needs are different,” says Brian McCormack, managing director of Flora Fusion.

“We recommend that people experiment to find their ideal level.

“Someone with acute fibromyalgia pain might need a much greater daily intake than someone using it for general wellbeing.

“We say a good rule of thumb is to take 0.5mg for every 1kg of body weight. Start low and work your way towards a higher dosage until you find what works for you.”

It’s important to understand the strength of CBD you’re buying, so look for labelling that makes that clear.

Companies like Flora Fusion aim to clearly explain quantities on their packaging and in their usage guides.

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CBD and anti-aging CBD is the latest buzz word in skin care thanks to the recent research that shows applying CBD oil to the skin has many benefits, not least in helping to stave off the effects of aging.

Brian says: “We aim to be as transparent as possible when it comes to the ratio of CBD in our products. For instance, our Hemp+ oil and Bio water-soluble products both contain a minimum of 400mg of CBD per 10ml.

“We use marked droppers for our oil so that customers can work out what they’re taking. Our Bio is different - it has a pump. One squirt should provide 8mg of CBD, but Bio’s unique formula enhances its bioavailability so can deliver the effect of up to 80mg.”

The same goes for Flora Fusion’s paste, called Raw. Each mark on the syringe measures a dose of 0.2ml delivering 33mg of CBD. You can find a video of how to take CBD paste on Flora Fusion’s You Tube channel.

“We always advise people to consult a nutritionist or other trained professional if they are in doubt,” says Brian McCormack. “We also suggest keeping a journal to note your progress – how much you take, how often and how you feel as a result.”

Unlike with pharmaceuticals, there are no definitive answers when it comes to dosage. It’s up to each of us to take responsibility, make informed choices and find out what works best for our own body, not someone else’s.

SUMMER 2019 | HOLISTIC SCOTLAND

As we get older, the elastin in our skin begins to break down and the body becomes less effective at fighting inflammation, retaining moisture and repairing itself.

But CBD’s naturally high anti-inflammatory and other properties help to repair skin and keep it healthy.

That means CBD oil can lessen the appearance of wrinkles and even fade age spots if used regularly over time.

You can use a CBD oil straight from the bottle sparingly on your face or combine CBD extract with coconut oil for an effective moisturiser.

Add a few drops of frankincense oil for extra efficacy.

Details of how to make a CBD infused coconut oil for yourself can be found at flora-fusion.com/cbd-blog

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The Wee company with a big heart After discovering the healing power of hemp for themselves, Calum and Rebecca Napier are on a mission to empower others and are now part of their customers’ CBD journeys, every step of the way.

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usband-and-wife team Calum and Rebecca Napier have experienced first-hand how CBD oil can help to transform lives.

Having been diagnosed with Crohn’s, an inflammatory bowel disease affecting more than 115,000 people in the UK, at the age of five, Rebecca has lived with chronic pain for the last 30 years.

In that time, her body has been bombarded with medicines, pain killers and antibiotics and she has undergone four major abdominal surgeries, as well as a string of other procedures.

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In 2016, she was also diagnosed with Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) – another chronic condition, this time causing pain all over the body.

But Rebecca had had enough. She wasn’t prepared to live in the shadow of two chronic, long-term conditions and started looking into her diet and lifestyle, as well as her approach to life, for answers.

She changed her diet to introduce healthier, more nutrient-dense foods and started taking supplements. She took a more holistic approach to day-to-day living and made drastic changes to her life.

SUMMER 2019 | HOLISTIC SCOTLAND

The couple are on a mission to help and empower others to take responsibility for their own health.

Then husband Calum, who had been Rebecca’s childhood friend through thick and thin for the last 20 years before they’d wed in 2015, suggested she try CBD (Cannabidiol) supplements.

Calum had been researching the positive effects CBD oil had been having in the USA for the likes of fibromyalgia and was encouraged by the mounting evidence surrounding its healing capabilities.

After experimenting with different brands and strengths – and through a process of trial and error – Rebecca started to find some relief from her symptoms.

Today – thanks, in part, to CBD – Rebecca is completely free from pharmaceutical drugs and is back to living an active lifestyle.

From their base in Aberdeen, they help to educate people on the endocannabinoid system and potential benefits of CBD, as well as selling a unique range of high-quality, third-party tested hemp and CBD products, including supplements, balms and e-liquids.

They use only natural methods of farming, coupled with a gentle CO2 extraction process to bring their customers CBD purity from soil to oil.

Transparent and compassionate, their approach has earned them multiple awards and respect as one of Scotland’s most trusted CBD suppliers.

Calum and Rebecca have also recently branched out into distilling the world’s first CBD-infused spirit range, Canna’B, comprising Limited-Edition gin and rum.

Find out more, or shop the range, at weehemp.com

Rebecca is now determined to leave this world in a better state than when she came into it. That’s why, in 2018, she and Calum set up The Wee Hemp Company.

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COMPETITION

Win a Seedball bundle AND HELP TO GROW A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR SCOTLAND’S BEES AND BUTTERFLIES

Since WWII, the UK has lost 97% of its wildflower habitats. But you can do your bit to help grow a brighter future.

By planting organic seed balls or wildflower seeds, you can help to reintroduce some of our native species, create a refuge for wildlife and help boost the UK’s threatened bee and butterfly population.

We’ve teamed up with Seedball to offer you the chance to win a set of three Limited Edition Seedball tins containing Oxeye Daisy, Cornflower and Poppy AND a bulk bag of Seedball’s bee and butterfly-friendly Wildflower Mix. Each tin contains 20 seed balls, which are enough to cover a square metre in 72

a garden bed or between three and five pots. Each ball contains clay, peatfree compost and chilli powder, which provides a protective casing to stop birds and ants from eating the seeds. Just scatter on top of soil or compost and let nature do the rest!

The Wildflower Mix contains around 300 seed balls, which are enough to cover 15-18 square metres and create a mini meadow in your garden.

To be in with a chance of winning, just email your name, address and telephone number to competitions@ holisticscot.com by 31 July 2019.

To find out more about Seedball, go to seedball.co.uk

SUMMER 2019 | HOLISTIC SCOTLAND

T H E G R E AT OU T D O O R S

Dream wellbeing destinations Make your escape and and head to one of these idyllic locations. It’s never too early to start planning the healthy holiday of a lifetime!

The healing hot springs of Hakone

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akone in the Kanagawa Prefecture is home to some of Japan’s most impressive traditional inns. With imposing mountain scenery and the magnificent Lake Ashi, it’s an area of outstanding natural beauty, perfect for hiking, biking, and exploring. Thanks to Mount Hakone, the active volcano at its heart, the area is abundant in hot springs – and the natural warmth and reviving properties of these geothermal waters make the Hakone ryokan experience even more special. Throw in Hakone’s location, just next door to Tokyo, and you have all the ingredients for an unforgettable travel experience.

Stay at Gora Kadan, which is set in the grounds of a former summer Imperial villa, where you can soak in the blissful atmosphere from the open-air or panoramic wooden baths.

Find out more at gorakadan.com

SPRING 2019 | HOLISTIC SCOTLAND

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T H E G R E AT OU T D O O R S

Thermotherapy in Manitoba

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n the heart of Canada, lies the vast and incredible province of Manitoba. It’s packed with with bucket list experiences, from polar bear viewings in Churchill and beluga whale excursions in the Hudson Bay, to black bears and moose sightings in Riding Mountain National Park. But there’s a calmer side to this adventure province too. Just a few minutes from downtown Winnipeg, Thermëa by Nordik Spa-Nature takes its visitors through a multisensory experience in the city’s wooded havens. Guests are invited enjoy the benefits of thermotherapy in world class facilities inspired by some of the best Scandinavian traditions.

The collection of outdoor baths alternate between hot and cold waters and are designed to eliminate toxins and stimulate circulation and increase cardiac rhythm. The resort also includes three relaxing outdoor pools: hot pool, temperate and cold plunge pool, as well as two distinct saunas, and exfoliation and steam rooms. Find out more at thermae.com

Holistic treatments in the Bavarian Rhön

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urrounded by the beautiful greenery of the Bavarian Rhön Biosphere Reserve, in the low mountain ranges of the Rhön in Germany, Regena Health Resort & Spa is the ultimate European escape. The luxury retreat helps guests restore their mental, physical and emotional wellbeing and offers a full range of medical treatments and exercise classes to optimise vitality. It combines a relaxing and revitalising spa holiday with a holistic approach, which spans natural healing, phytotherapy, homeopathy, nutrition, and Western medicine. The retreat can help with immunology, cancer recovery, rheumatism, weight issues, digestion, stress, depression and much more. Highlights include the Finnish sauna and bio-soft sauna, which can help to boost the immune system; the herbal and steam baths, and the ‘White Gold Healing Salt Stud’. While you’re there, you can enjoy yoga and qi gong and retreat to the spa for bespoke treatments to further strengthen your immune system, increase physical fitness and help build up your resistance to physical and mental stress. Visit regena.de

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Dream wellbeing destinations

Sanctuary in the heart of Tuscany

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etween Rome and Florence in the untouched Maremma region of Tuscany’s rolling hills and Tyrrhenian Seaside, you’ll find Castello di Vicarello, a luxury castle hotel with a brand-new Spa Suite, al fresco menu and private wine cellar. It’s a sanctuary for anyone who covets an authentic Tuscan experience – complete with wine, wellness and wholesome Italian food. The hotel’s new one-bedroom Spa Suite has a private steam room, and sauna, as well as an outdoor shower and hot tub set in an idyllic rosemary garden. Its contemporary chaletstyle suite lets the glorious Tuscan countryside flood the space, while remaining completely secluded. The decking area outside is the perfect spot for morning and evening yoga, as well as an ideal spot to soak up the Tuscan sunshine and enjoy a glass of Prosecco or Negroni.

Go to castellodivicarello.com

Make the break…

A wellness holiday can change your world, writes Vikki Rebecca of Hypnotherapy Aberdeen As a tour facilitator since 2003, I’ve found that magical things happen when we gather in incredible places and when we reach pivotal points in our lives. Therefore, the rapid rate of growth of wellness tourism doesn’t surprise me one little bit. In a world of rising stress levels people don’t just want to spend their precious free time on the beach. They want to see a change in their habits and lifestyle and often going on a retreat for a week is the perfect solution.

When you’re caught up in the humdrum of your daily life it can be hard to see even the most obvious truth, far less the quality of answers required to know who you are and what you truly want. For those kinds of answers, you need to step back. You need to retreat.

A retreat, from the Latin verb “to pull back,” is a place where you withdraw from the world and see yourself anew. During this withdrawal all the energy that you normally send in a multitude of different directions gathers in on your chosen point of focus.

That focus can be self-care, healing, detox, finding your people, or your inspiration.

Perhaps simply allowing the spaciousness to see what will then unfold. This will allow you a new perspective, to re-group, re-treat and re-energise. Within it you find a space to breathe into your life, remember your dream and hear the messages from your own heart.

In the safe and nurturing environment of experienced facilitators and likeminded souls, the place, the lessons whether yoga, writing, learning a new skill or simply the stories and anecdotes will bring what you most need and you will easily realise the small shifts that can change your world.

Then you bring that essence, that core, that purpose, back to your life, to which you can return refreshed, re-motivated and full of life.

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T H E G R E AT OU T D O O R S

Private island wellness in the Maldives

Dream wellbeing destinations

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elaa Private Island is one of the most exclusive private islands in the world, where you can enjoy a suite of fitness facilities, including tennis and squash courts, swimming pools, water sports and a golf academy.

The island takes a holistic approach to wellness and specialises in a selection of Asian-inspired therapies, including Ayurveda, using the My Blend by Clarins Spa to enhance and promote health and longevity.

Recently, the island has taken tailored wellness one step further by introducing a new body transformation experience – even offering a DNA test and GenSmart technology to create truly bespoke programmes based on metabolism and hereditary factors when it comes to muscles and joints. The team teach guests about their body shape and muscle mass, before setting a unique itinerary of cardio exercises, which might include running, spinning, HIIT (high-intensity interval training) and circuits, combined with more mindful practises such as yoga and meditation. Find out more at velaaprivateisland.com

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RETREAT

Yoga / ayurveda / hiking / cleansing / relaxing / crafting / sea swimming / paddle boarding / massage / nature & MORE 10 SEPT - 15 Sept, 2019

cascais, portugal

www.detoxhealthbeauty.com

PRO M OT I O NA L F E AT U R E

Summertime… and the living is easy…

With Wigwam® Holidays, it’s easy to enjoy the great outdoors in complete comfort while staying close to nature.

With Wigwam® Holidays, it’s easy to enjoy the great outdoors in complete comfort while staying close to nature.

Wigwam® Holidays is the nation’s leading glamping accommodation provider, with 35 locations across Scotland.

And did you know that our timber cabins are also made in Scotland?

From an island location to the shores of a Scottish loch, there’s a site for everyone.

Make the most of the long daylight hours with a campfire, marshmallows and luxury cabin to relax in after a day of adventure!

Many cabins are en-suite, some have hot tubs and, from summer 2019, sites are taking delivery of our brand new, accessible glamping cabins.

Enjoy long summer days, campfire nights and glamping delights with Wigwam® Holidays.

GLAMPING AT ITS BEST! Slow down time, revive your spirits and connect with loved ones.

Enjoy adventures by day and campfire stories by night.

Complete each perfect day with a restful night’s sleep in a warm and cosy Wigwam® Cabin.

35 stunning locations throughout Scotland.

Love every moment.

BOOK ONLINE AT wigwamholidays.com 78

SUMMER 2019 | HOLISTIC SCOTLAND

T H E G R E AT OU T D O O R S | PRO M OT I O NA L F E AT U R E

New! The Body Toolkit Retreats at Cray House

The Body Toolkit has introduced a new retreat location which is already booking up fast!

What’s included?

The Body Toolkit Retreats’ award-winning 7-day programme – created by Holistic Scotland Magazine columnist Katrina Mather – will be hosted at Cray House in Glenshee this May, June and September.

Owner Katrina’s ethos is to teach simple techniques to nourish the body, reduce stress and, ultimately, help us to thrive.

“Set in the foothills of Glenshee, within its own 20-acre estate, this recently renovated Georgian home offers the perfect space to retreat, recharge and renew,” she says.

Katrina’s retreats are consistently described as “lifechanging”, while guests report an average weight loss of 7lbs; a significant boost in energy levels and mood; improved sleep and digestion, and a reduction in aches and pains.

Each one combines an organic juice cleanse with gentle walks in nature, yoga and coaching to help combat stress.

• Results-orientated detox programme of freshly extracted organic vegetable juices, smoothies and soups

Save the date Just an hour-and-a-half from Edinburgh, The Body Toolkit Retreats at Cray House will run on the following dates: 8 June – 14 June, 28 Sept – 4 Oct (waiting list only)

Book now!

Early booking is highly recommended for all of Katrina’s retreats, the Cray House 2019 dates have sold out quickly, although she is now taking bookings for 2020 and still has some availability for her autumn dates at Arisaig House, in the stunning west coast Highlands.All-inclusive retreats start from £1,199 and availability can be found at thebodytoolkit.com, or you can contact Katrina directly by emailing info@thebodytoolkit.com

• Total immersion in stunning rural Perthshire – gateway to the Cairngorm National Park

• Charming, cosy accommodation • Enjoyable walks in nature • Gentle yoga • Workshops on juicing, earthing and achieving optimal health • Personal health evaluations, goal identification and vision coaching • Morning journaling and evening gratitude journal practice • Magnesium therapy in the form of baths or foot baths • Internal cleansing • Small groups with a maximum of 10 guests ensuring plenty of personal space

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Amy Gibbs Therapy Centre

425-427 High St, Kirkcaldy, KY1 2SG 07720 604439 www.amygibbstherapies.com

In association with: Moonlight Reiki DĂŠtente Therapies

07475 947747

Hypnotherapy Aromatherapy Massage Essential Oils Education Reiki & Crystal Healing Dance, Fitness & Yoga Mindfulness Therapy

07534 451582

Agnes T McCluskey Courses - Therapies - Talks

PAUSE & BREATHE MINDFULNESS

Do you feel over loaded - that your mind is constantly busy with no respite?

Want to learn more about Mindfulness and learn to stop?

Pause & Breathe is mindfully run by Susie Hooper Events and courses are held across Central Scotland For those further afield she can offer facetime sessions, or day or weekend courses

CONTACT Email: susie@pauseandbreathe.co.uk

www.colourenergytherapies.co.uk

Follow on Facebook.com/pausebreathe

pandbmindfulness

AUTUMN 2019

THE ULTIMATE BRAIN WORKOUT

Sanctuary by the sea

Cut your dementia risk by half

Top mindfulness apps SPOTLIGHT ON REFLEXOLOGY

Fun, interactive workshops for kids, teens, adults & the workplace

PLUS 40-PAGE SCOTTISH SPA GUIDE

Experience the rich diversity, simplicity & majesty of India

Varkala Wellness Yoga & Meditation Retreats

Join us in December 2019 & January 2020

www.vickirebecca.com

Find inner calm, reduce anxiety, boost your confidence, and increase your resilience and self-worth T: 07946381886 E: perfect.solutions@counsellor.com UK-wide /empowermentworkshops

To advertise your business, email:

advertising@holisticscot.com

Quality CBD products Ethically sourced and brought to you from the heart of Scotland Use HSM10 for 10% off your first order at flora-fusion.com Terms and conditions apply. Please see website for more information. Offer ends 01.01.2020