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Welcome
 Welcome to the eighth edition of our newsletter. We aim to give you health updates, bits of science and recent findings in the health field, news from our clinics, and offers - so please read on. |
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Acupuncture for Menopause
 Menopause occurs naturally in women between the ages of 45 and 56. During this time a variety of symptoms may be experienced, some of which are quite unpleasant. Hot flushes, night sweats, insomnia, anxiety & palpitations, headaches, and vaginal dryness are all often described. Up to 60% of women experience one or more of these symptoms severely enough for them to contact their GP.
A number of scientific studies have shown acupuncture to be an effective treatment for menopausal symptoms:
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Aromatherapy can help too!
A study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine(3) looked at 15 patients of average age 54 with menopausal symptoms and gave each a 30 minute aromatherapy massage. Their symptoms were assessed using the Kupperman Index (KI) a standard medical questionnaire of menopausal symptoms. Following the aromatherapy massage the KI of patients reduced from a score of 31.4 to 22.9 which was statistically significant.
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New books for Christmas
 Chris Norris has two new books out for Christmas, Stretching for Running and Stretching for Racquet Sports. Each is a pocket guide priced at just £7.99 and is in full colour. There is instruction on stretching technique, a stretching test table to determine your current flexibility level and a series of 25 stretches tailored to your particular sport. They make ideal stocking fillers!!
Available at the Norris Associates website or from major book sellers. |
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Chris Norris listed in Wikipedia
Clinic director Chris Norris is listed in the online world encyclopedia Wikipedia. The article about him seems to have started out as the author description from the back cover of his US published book Back Stability. As an open source site, you can add your own facts and figures to this so if you know any interesting bits and pieces update his listing!!
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Peppermint oil good for IBS
 Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects up to 20% of the population and is normally treated by a combination of dietary modification and drug therapy. The drugs used are antispasmodic – meaning that they cut down the ‘stomach churning’ sensation which occurs in IBS due to muscle action of the bowel. The pain and bloating which often accompany the condition have been treated for some time with alternative therapies including acupuncture, and peppermint products such as tea and oil tablets. This new study was an analysis of the major studies published since 1950 which compared the efficacy of antispasmodic drugs, peppermint oil and dietary fibre against either a placebo (pretend treatment) or no treatment.
After receiving treatment, 26% of patients having peppermint oil still had symptoms compared to 65% of those having a placebo – a strikingly poorer result. The researchers concluded that peppermint oil, dietary fibre and antispasmodic drugs were equally effective. The advice then for those with IBS is to increase the amount of unrefined (higher fibre) food in the diet and use peppermint oil tablets (200mg, 2 or 3 times daily) to relieve symptoms. Antispasmodic drugs should only be considered if these two interventions are unsuccessful. See the full article. |
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New sections on Norris Website
 We have expanded our website with new pages on acupuncture treatment of infertility and menopause, management of arthritis and treatments for low backpain. See the new sections: on arthritis and on acupuncture.
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References
1.Cohen et al 2003.Can acupuncture ease the symptoms of menopause? Holistic Nursing Practice. 17(6): 295-9
2.Huang et al 2006 A randomized controlled pilot study of acupuncture for postmenopausal hot flushes. Fertility and Sterility. 86(3): 700-10 3. Murakami et al (2005) Aromatherapy for Outpaitnes with Menopausal Symptoms in Obstetrics and Gynecology. The Journal of alternative and complementary medicine 11(3): 491-494 |
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Norris Associates
We can be found in Congleton or Sale:
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