Wealden Wellbeing

Bless You!

With nearly 18 million of us suffering from it in the UK alone, hay fever seems never ending for those itching and snuffling throughout summer. But what are the options for treatment? We talk to three holistic health experts to get their advice on some natural remedies...

The team at Helios Tunbridge Wells...

What is Homeopathy and how does it work?

Homeopathy is a system of medicine that uses minute doses of substances, usually from plant or mineral origin, prepared to traditional methods. The word Homeopathy comes from the Greek words and means similar suffering. This refers to the central philosophy that a substance which can produce symptoms in a healthy person can, in homeopathic dose, cure those symptoms in a sick person. For example a person suffering from typical hay fever symptoms of streaming and irritated eyes and nose might be given a remedy prepared from an onion.

Can homeopathy help with the symptoms of hay fever?

We receive many telephone calls and enquiries in the pharmacy asking for help with hay fever. There are many remedies that might help with hay fever symptoms but in order for homeopathy to be effective it is important to match the person’s symptoms as closely as possible to the remedy picture or for very severe, long standing problems have an in-depth consultation with a homeopath. 

Are there particular homeopathic remedies you would recommend for the condition?

Two of the most commonly prescribed remedies for typical symptoms of irritated eyes and nose, sneezing etc are Mixed Pollens and Grasses, which contain pollens from grasses, trees, shrubs and flowers and a combination of three remedies Euphrasia, Allium Cepa and Sabadilla.

To find out more about Helios Homeopathy visit their shop and clinic at 97 Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells, call 01892 537254 or see www.helios.co.uk.

Health coach and personal trainer, Sophie Pattihis

Are there foods hay fever sufferers should avoid when pollen counts are high? 

Allergic reactions, like hay fever, are not just inconvenient symptoms to be suppressed, but a valuable signal from the body that it is struggling with stress, acidity and inflammation caused by diet, lifestyle and gene expression. based on each client’s bio-individuality – the vital key to being able to ‘eat yourself out of ’ any inflammatory state. There are certain foods that commonly trigger inflammation such as processed wheat and dairy, refined sugar, animal protein and alcohol.

Are there any foods that will help alleviate symptoms? 

Yes! Salads, smoothies, juices and stir fries are the way to re-balance naturally. Raw, organic veg, fruits, nuts and seeds are rich in the anti-oxidant vitamin C and flavonoids, a group of plant pigments with natural anti-histamine properties. Examples of great options are dark green vegetables like spinach, broccoli and kale and orange and red foods such as tomatoes, beetroot and berries. Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and walnuts are also beneficial.

Do you recommend any specific supplements – vitamins and minerals – that will help? 

Rather than ‘supplements’, I have my top three bio-available foods that the body can easily recognise and use immediately. Wheatgrass powder fortifies the blood, is antiinflammatory and is the best source of living chlorophyll. Raw honey and bee pollen contain quercertin, another anti inflammatory compound that’s great for the immune system and Omega 3 fish oil is an effective antioxidant. 

See Sophie’s website for health coaching appointments, inspiration and recipes galore: www.thefeelingway.com

Healer and author, with a special interest in plants, Anna Parkinson

When using herbs medicinally, would you recommend taking them in tincture, tea or tablet form? 

I would recommend a tincture or a tea over tablets because I like to use herbs as fresh as possible. Making a tea with fresh herbs is so easy: pour hot water over a small handful of leaves and leave it covered to steep for 15 minutes before drinking. A tincture is made from the essence extracted in alcohol, also easy to take as drops in water. 

Are there any herbs which are of particular benefit to hay fever sufferers? 

Nettle tea, made as above, will clear the liver and it’s delicious if made from fresh leaves. Rosemary tea clears and dries nasal passages, and sage tea will do the same for throat and chest. My personal favourite for itchy eyes are eye-drops made from distilled loosestrife root, Lythrum salicaria, a 17th century recipe that is fantastic for any eye problem. A witch hazel eye bath is also good. Eyebright is commonly recommended also.

Can I grow any of these herbs in my garden?

Plants have such a varied and wonderful interaction with us that many plants will treat the same ailment, but personally I think the best ones to use are the ones you can obtain closest to home. Many of the most effective herbs, like loosestrife, grow wild in the countryside around you. Anyone can grow sage, rosemary and thyme in a pot and these will serve you all through the year, for coughs and chest infections in the winter and hay fever in the summer.

Anna is the author of ‘Nature’s Alchemist: John Parkinson, herbalist to Charles I’, and
'Change your Mind, Heal your Body’. For more about Anna see www.annaparkinson.com. For appointments call 0781 806 1605

May's Wealden Wellbeing

  Flexible Health  

Just what is it about yoga that makes it so popular? Julie Simpson speaks to three experts in the field about the mind and body benefits of practicing this ancient discipline...

Kat Farrants
Yoga Entrepreneur
Is yoga a religious practice? 
To me, no. If people want it to be religious, then it can be. Yoga is movement with intent and if people want that intention to be directed towards spiritual awakening of whatever religion, then that’s great. I practice yoga with the intent of listening and being present, to myself, to others. This is something that I try to do both on and off the mat. Yoga has its background in the Hindu tradition, but it can be moulded to suit modern lives. 


What are the health benefits of yoga? 
So many! Being ‘present’ takes the awareness into the present moment which reduces stress. Taking deep breaths also reduces stress and is beneficial for the lungs and cells of the body. Keeping the body moving is so good, when most of us spend our days sitting in front of a screen. I see yoga as moving consciously and breathing deeply, both helpful when dealing with tricky everyday situations. 


Why has a practice from ancient Indian become so popular in the modern world? 
Because it is a series of practices which really work! In times when we are expected to be multi-tasking and always ready to answer calls and emails, it’s great to have a practice which can give you peace of mind. And in a society where we sit a lot, it’s lovely to be able to move more in all directions, even when there’s not much time. 

Kat is founder of Movement for Modern Life, an online yoga company which brings together the very best teachers from the UK and internationally. This is yoga Anytime. Any where. Any wear. Accessed from laptops, smart phones or by plugging the computer into the TV, the best teachers will come to you. Classes range from 5 minutes to 90 minutes of challenging yoga. www.movementformodernlife.com

Lucy McNeill
Yoga Teacher
Do you have to be flexible to join a yoga class? 
Yoga is about so much more than flexibility and the flexible people can be the most vulnerable to injury, especially if they are competitive! Flexibility is a reward of practicing yoga and so too is increased strength, stamina, body awareness and mental clarity. Even more importantly Yoga teaches us to breathe well, to calm the mind and to find more balance in our daily lives.


How do I find a yoga class that suits my needs?
Do your research into teachers and studios, ask around and visit a class with an open mind, if you don’t like it try another teacher, no one will be offended. It is so important to find a teacher you connect with and trust remembering that not everyone practices Yoga for the same reasons. You need
to feel confident that the teacher will help you to explore your own body and mind in a safe and welcoming atmosphere. No ego, just a deep-seated desire to help you on your journey, with Yoga and your teacher as a guide.


How often do I need to practice yoga to see the benefits?
Once a week is not enough, although better than nothing at all! The body forgets easily and so, 2 well–spaced classes a week is a great way to feel the advantages quite quickly. If your schedule allows, try for 3 classes a week. Be realistic, no-one needs to be getting stressed out trying to fit in a yoga class! Perhaps, take in a live class twice a week to be sure you are on the right track with alignment and understanding and supplement with on-line videos.


Lucy McNeill is a yoga teacher and founder of Flow, a new yoga studio and treatment room in Tunbridge Wells for yoga, osteopathy, acupuncture, Shiatsu, massage, therapies and health. www.flowtunbridgewells.com

Cathy-Mae Karelse
Yoga therapist and Auyervedic practitioner
What is Yoga Therapy?
It’s not unusual for us to feel out of sorts occasionally. Commonly our bodies find ways to
rebalance when the disturbances are shortlived. But at other times, particularly in the case of stress-induced conditions, we live with chronic dis-ease of the body, mind and heart. Yoga therapy works with the whole person: it takes account of bodily sensations, emotions, mental patterning and spiritual life. It draws upon the ancient practices of yoga and Ayurveda as well as mindfulness using postures, breathwork and various skills to restore well being. 


Is it only suitable for experienced yogis? 
Everyone is able to benefit from yoga therapy. A good yoga therapist designs programmes suitable to the needs of an individual; it is patient-centred rather than disease-oriented. Through a process of interaction (some discussion and short practices), the ‘client’ usually leaves with guidelines and/or a ‘practice’ to implement to foster symptomatic relief while working to dislodge root cause.


What kind of conditions benefit from Yoga therapy?
It’s tempting to say that all conditions can be improved through yoga therapy as healing resides on the rapport between the ‘client’ and therapist rather than the condition itself. That said, there is a growing evidence base showing improvement in conditions like asthma, diabetes, arthritis, depression, anxiety, stress-related disorders, cardio-vascular and trauma-related disorders. 


Cathy-Mae will be joining us at Wealden Times Midsummer Fair. Alongside her role training yoga teachers and yoga therapists as well as teaching Ayurveda, mindfulness and mindfulness trainers, Cathy-Mae has a Wellness Practice offering various consultations. She is a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Westminster and is currently studying for PhD at the School of African and Oriental studies based around meditation and mindfulness. Visit www. cathymae.com or www.clearmindinstitute.com



Wealden Times Midsummer Fair & Priceless People Wellbeing Festival sponsored by Benenden Hospital & Benenden Health runs from 4-6 June at Hole Park, Rolvenden. To book your tickets visit www.wealdentimes.co.uk/events

International Happiness Day

  What makes team WT happy  

Today is International Happiness Day! So we asked 

ourselves what makes us really happy...


Lucy, our Editor-

Walking my dog Percy makes me happy, or doing the gardening, and having a glass of wine at the end of a busy week. 

Helen, the Editorial Assistant-

Dancing and getting a new brightly coloured lipstick to add to my collection.


Elen, the Sales Director for the Wealdenfairs.com team-

Cuddles with my dog Milo make me happy!

Megan, our  E-Commerce Assistant-

Spring time! But only when it's sunny. Galaxy counters as well...they're my favourite!


Fiona, the Wealden Fairs Events Organiser-

Sunshine! But I love snow and fresh frosty mornings too.

Sarah, our Accounts Goddess-

Long, light summer evenings. I love it when we leave work and it's still light outside!


Ros, the Proof Reading Expert-

Short and sweet: flowers.

Anthony, Design Wizard-

When I get home from work, my family all give me a hug! That makes me really happy.


Rob, our other Design Wizard-

Wildlife and animals. Specifically squirrels and bunnies. 


Phoebe, our mini Design Wizard-

Seeing my boyfriend Tommy always makes me happy. so does pizza!


Becky, the sales dream-

My little Harrison's cheeky smile!

Lisa, our other sales dream-

My husband.

Tell us what makes you happy in the comments below, or tweet us @wealdentimes

Spring Time Spritz

  We smell delicious...  

The WT editorial office have been sent this stunning scent from Jo Malone. It smells like sunshine and rainbows, we're in love!

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