Latest News and Blog from the Pain Relief Centre

The Pain Relief Centre is pleased to announce the arrival of our new Foot Health Practitioner, Michael Calvert SAC Dip FHPT SAC Dip FHPP. 

Michael has over five years of experience in the domiciliary care sector.  He has recently graduated from the Stonebridge College with an advanced diploma as a Foot Health Practitioner and is a member of the Alliance of Foot Health Practitioners.  Michael treats a wide range of foot related problems such as corns, callus, nail cutting, fungal and thickened nails and verrucas.  With state of the art, hygienic equipment Michael delivers a tailored foot care service to his clients.

With Non Owen Medical herbalist and Clinical Aromatherapist BSc PhD MNIMH

Talks and demonstrations on all aspects of herbs: Medicinal, Culinary, Beauty and Gardening.

Kitchen Pharmacy                     September 22nd 2011

Winter Herbal Remedies          October 6th 2011

Herbal Beauty                            December 8th 2011

Growing a Herb Garden           January 12th 2012

Nature's First Aid Cabinet        February 23rd 2012

Hedgerow Remedies &            

Weed Medicine                         March 29th 2012

Workshops run on Thursday mornings from 10am-12pm at Caffi Florence, Loggerheads.

To book, contact Caffi Florence on 01352 810397 or visit www.caffi.florence.co.uk

Press Release February 18^th 2011

Herbalists get the green light! Patient safety now assured.

Flint based Medical Herbalist Non Owen, member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH) today warmly welcomed the Government's announcement of the statutory regulation of herbal and traditional medicine practitioners under the Health Professions Council (HPC). 

Non says: “I am delighted that after 10 years of debate, delays and consultation (the last public consultation attracted over 6000 responses, of which 85% favoured regulation) that the thousands of patients who consult herbalists every year can be assured about the standards of training and practice of the practitioners they see.

 Statutory regulation will raise the standards of education and practice in herbal medicine and will mean that properly trained and regulated herbal practitioners are easier to identify and are more accountable.

The Government has now safeguarded the right of patients to access the herbal products on which they rely, as after April 2011, EU regulations will restrict over the counter herb access.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my patients and members of the public in Flintshire for their support, including lobbying their MP.

A molecule which may control how acupuncture relieves pain has been pinpointed by US researchers.

Experiments in mice showed that levels of adenosine - a natural painkiller - increased in tissues near acupuncture sites. Pain experts said the findings may partly explain how the treatment works.

Adenosine is known to have many roles in the body including regulating sleep and
reducing inflammation, the researchers said.

Source BBC news May 2010

Ric says; What the scientists have found here is one possible mechanism for how acupuncture works. I believe that it is only one mechanism and that there are many different ways that acupuncture affects the body. However, this is still a very exciting piece of research. It confirms what I see in clinic every day, in that acupuncture works and is very effective for treating pain.

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT.

It is time to call on your support again. We asked for your support in November 2009, to response to the consultation document on statutory regulation of herbalists.

A regulated herbal profession means better patient care and protection as regulated herbalist will need to have accredited training to a high standard.

Patients responded in their thousands and the consultation result was overwhelmingly for regulation.

THE PROBLEM
In April this year (2011), a piece of European legislation called the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive will be implemented. This cannot be overturned. It will restrict the range of herbal medicine products that herbalists can prescribe for you and this could mean that herbalists will not be able to provide you with the herbs that you require.

THE SOLUTION
If professional herbalists become statutorily regulated by the Health Professions Council before April 2011 this will confer a legal status that preserves our right to prescribe a full range of herbal medicines.

The last Government promised this almost 10 years ago but delayed on delivering it again and again. We understand that the present Government is shortly to make a decision on whether to grant such regulation or not.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: & URGENTLY PLEASE
Please write to the persons listed below along the following lines:

“I am a herbal medicine patient and rely on my herbal practitioner to support my health. I am worried to hear that my herbalist may not be able to prescribe the herbs that I need when the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive is implemented this year. I understand that the only way to ensure that my herbalist can continue to prescribe the herbal medicines I need is for the herbal profession to be statutorily regulated by the Health Professions Council – I urge the Government to act now.

 I want to keep being able to take my preferred form of medicine and I expect my Government to protect this right.”

Please adapt this basic message, using your own words as you wish and, if you can, add a personal comment stating why herbs are important for you.

WHO TO SEND YOUR LETTER TO
Please write a letter to each of the people below.
It is ideal if your letter is handwritten as this attracts more attention (and it makes it harder for bureaucrats to ignore) – and sent by post not email.

Your Own MP
- add the address of your local MP here, use the Parliamentary not the constituency address

Mark Prisk MP
Minister of State
Department of Business, Innovation & Skills
1 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0ET

Anne Milton MP
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Public Health)
Richmond House
79 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2NS

TOGETHER WE CAN SAFEGUARD YOUR RIGHT TO RECEIVE HERBAL MEDICINE

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

The Pain Relief Centre is planning an expansion phase over the next twelve months.  We are looking for a Dentist and a Physiotherapist who would like to work in a dynamic and professional environment.  If you are interested in these positions please use the contact us page.

Claire Darlington has an undergraduate degree in Sport & Exercise Science and is currently completing a postgraduate degree in Weight Management at Chester University. Claire has been in the fitness industry for 10 years, delivering group exercise sessions such as pilates, fitness yoga, boxercise, body conditioning and body pump in the Chester and North Wales area. She is also the founder of STRIDE (specialised training in diet and exercise) programme, a 12-week exercise/nutrition intervention aimed at de motivated children aged 12-15 years that has been delivered in many secondary schools in Chester. Claire has regularly presented at the popular annual Fitpro convention for the last 3-years.

Samuel Morris is the newest member of the team working on Fridays but also Saturdays.  He is a first class honours graduate from the College of Osteopaths.

Sam treats acute and chronic conditions found in all age groups but his particular interest is sporting injuries and works within professional football teams across the north of the UK.

Sam also tutors Osteopathic Students in the North Staffordshire Medcal Institute.

We would like to welcome him and his skills to the clinic.