ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IN FOCUS - YOUR HEALTH HUB

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ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IN FOCUS - YOUR HEALTH HUB
Your HealtH HuB
                                               A look at...

                                           Eco Holidays
                                              Fabulous
                                      environmentally
                                     friendly products

                                               Upcycling
                                                 projects
                                          Minor Surgery
                                                  FAQs

                                                      Your
In focus...                                       local guide
                                                  to health &
Environmental Health                               wellbeing

   Your directory of professionals, practitioners, shops and
 online services available in the Dacorum and St Albans area
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IN FOCUS - YOUR HEALTH HUB
Carmel Twomey Lic Ac, MAsC TCM.

Interested in
finding the REAL
cause of your
dis-ease?

Acupuncture | Massage
Moativational Medicine (talking therapy)
                     “I am passionate about assisting others in alleviating
                       any health concerns, and also in understanding
                         why the body created them in the first place.”
                          Carmel is a highly qualified multi-disciplinary
                          therapist, with thirty years of clinical experience
                         both in Ireland and here in the UK. The human
                        body is complex and magnificent and is not
                      as limited as we have been lead to believe. Her
                   expertise lies in taking into account the many factors
that can trigger disease in the body and then skilfully assisting you in
facilitating the healing process.

phone:                                 • Acupuncture administered only
07882 889989                             at the clinic in Berkhamsted.
email:
                                       • Talking therapy, both phone-
carmel@carmeltwomey.co.uk
                                         based or face to face.
www.carmeltwomey.co.uk
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IN FOCUS - YOUR HEALTH HUB
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   Call or Text
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     jenniferannmicroblading
          jenniferann.co.uk
      65 High Street, Harpenden, AL5 2SL
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IN FOCUS - YOUR HEALTH HUB
in focus

    welcome
                                      ...to Your Health Hub – YOUR local health
                                           and wellbeing magazine and directory

     This edition’s editorial focus is on            • Cotton tampons and sanitary towels, some
     Environmental Health. We are all aware that       are plastic free. Reusable and washable
     the Environment needs our help, and every         sanitary towels and underwear, Mooncups
     little change we work towards, makes a            or Menstrual sea sponge tampons
     difference. Here are some suggestions:          • Reusable and washable nappies,
     • Bamboo or bio-degradable toothbrushes           breast pads, cloths rather than wipes
                                                       or Disposable eco nappies – some are
     • Metal / bamboo reusable straws and
                                                       bio-degradable, free from chlorine, vegan
       cutlery, in Italy they use pasta!
                                                       (although not as good for the environment
     • Eco sponges that can be composted               as reusable ones).
     • Natural bars of soap instead of liquid soap
                                                     As well as looking at Environmental Health
       in containers
                                                     in this issue, there will be the usual look at
     • Recyclable or refillable soap dispensers      health & wellbeing, with your directory of

                                                                          Zandra x
     • Algae Omega 3 instead of fish oil tablets     local health & wellbeing facilities
     • Use Natural Food Wraps                        and practitioners.
     • Paper or bamboo cotton buds – some can
       be composted
                                                     Zandra
     • Shop locally and in charity shops             Editor, Your Health Hub Directory

4
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IN FOCUS - YOUR HEALTH HUB
www.yourhealthhub.uk

Contents                                                                     30
6     Doing your bit
      There is so much we need to do to help
      our environment. Find out what our
      editor, Zandra, is doing
      Editor’s favourites
8     Win a selection of          WIN
      environmentally friendly
      health and wellbeing products            26     A quick snapshot of some
                                                      local upcyclers
                                                      Local people doing amazing things
12    Can we do more to travel
      sustainably?
                                                      with discarded and preloved items
      How changing your travel behaviour
      could be good for the environment        30 Eco   holidays
                                                   Environmentally friendly getaways

14    Period poverty
      Action Aid looks at the use of           34 Aenvironmental
                                                     herbalists view on
                                                                   health
      sustainable products                            Change the air in our homes

20 What’s   the frequency
   What every health practitioner needs to 36 Pure drinking water
                                              Why is it so important to us?
   tell everyone about nnEMF
                                              The issues facing homeless
   Bee good and create a buzz
22 Help support Britain’s bees WIN         40 people

   and win a selction of goodies
                                           42 Grounding
                                              Wellness techniques
24 Charity shops championing
   Returned to glory
                                           44 The holistic home
   sustainability                             Your guide to air purifying plants

                                           46 The Balance Procedure
                                              A dynamic and ground breaking tool
                                                      for the 21st century

                                               48     Power with the help of Goddess
                                                      New year, new you
                                               51     An anti-ageing injectable skin care
                                                      treatment

                            22
                                               52     Minor Surgery FAQ
                                                      Directory
                                               54     Your local guide to hair, beauty
                                                      and health & wellbeing

                                                                                            5
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IN FOCUS - YOUR HEALTH HUB
in focus

    doing
     your bit
    We all know that there is much we need to do to help our environment. This is a new
    journey for me, but I realise anything we can do, even if it is one small change, is a positive
    change. Being honest I am still not there, but I am acutely aware of the need to do more,
    and as a family, we are trying hard to make simple changes that we hope are effective.

    RECYCLING                                                Wrapping paper: I always put wrapping paper
    The first thing I looked at was household recycling    into the recycling bin, but much of it is plasticised,
    – how were we doing with it? I knew that I had         has glitter or metallic and cannot be recycled.
    always done a quick bin check to hook out any          (Same for greeting cards). Unlaminated paper-
    cardboard and tins that the family may have            based wrapping paper and pre-recycled wrapping
    inadvertently binned, but what else was I missing,     paper are usually recyclable. A good way to
    or doing wrong?                                        test is try to scrunch up the paper into a ball. If it
      I am still learning, but the first three things I    scrunches, and stays scrunched, it can probably
    learned were:                                          be recycled.
      Fruit punnets: I used to put fruit and mushroom        Cardboard and paper: Plastic tape cannot be
    punnets in the recycling, but as they are usually      recycled so remove from cardboard boxes first.
    made of a combination of plastics, and are often       Similarly, the windows in paper envelopes need
    non-recyclable.                                        to removed and placed in general waste before
      Cleaning your jars: I knew to rinse milk             recycling the paper.
    cartons, tins, jars and bottles but I didn’t realise     If it’s smaller than a post-it note it can’t be
    not doing so could end up sending all the              recycled - plastic caps needn’t be removed from
    collected recycling to landfill.                       the bottle before recycling. Whilst soap dispensers
                                                           belong in the recycling, the tops don’t.
6
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IN FOCUS - YOUR HEALTH HUB
www.yourhealthhub.uk

   Our recycling bin is much better utilised now
and fills rapidly. Council websites will usually have          simple swaps
details of what is recyclable, and Dacorum has a
little video outlining what happens to our waste.              One swap I found very easy was to use
   http://www.dacorum.gov.uk/home/environment-                 natural bars of soap instead of liquid soap
street-care/recycling-refuse-waste/what-happens-               in containers. There is an amazing array
to-my-recyclables                                              of organic, vegan and eco-friendly bars
                                                               of soaps. You can buy bars of shampoo,
                                                               conditioner and even washing up liquid.
                                                               Make-Up Remover – one of my biggest sins
   utilities                                                   was using makeup removing wipes, but I
   I had read about Green energy and was                       now use a facial cleanser and a flannel.
   becoming more aware of renewable energy –                   Gifting: This year I have endeavoured to by
   but I had not realised until I researched it, that          upcycled items, gifts from charity shops or
   you could choose a provider of green energy                 eco-friendly gifts.
   for your household energy.
                                                               Refill Stations: Our local health food
                                                               shops offer basic’s refill stations for
      The Definition of Green Energy                           things like pasta and rice so I can refill
      Green energy comes from natural sources                  my own jars saving on packaging.
      such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, plants,
      algae and geothermal heat. These energy                   Cheaper:
      resources are renewable, meaning they’re               Bulb makes
      naturally replenished. In contrast, fossil             energy cheaper
      fuels are a finite resource that takes                 – they invest in
      millions of years to develop                           technology to
      and will continue to diminish with use.                reduce costs, and they pass savings on to their
      (source: https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/energy/     members.
      stories/what-is-green-energy)                             Greener: Bulb make energy greener – so
                                                             they help protect our planet. This isn’t about
     As a family, we chose BULB (although there              being do-gooders; it’s just about doing what
   are others).                                              makes sense for our environment and future
     Bulb is the UK’s fastest-growing energy                 generations.
   supplier, providing over 1.4 million homes with             And they’re constantly looking to improve.
   affordable, green energy. Bulb was founded                By obsessively listening to their members they
   in 2015 by Hayden Wood and Amit Gudka                     want to make the whole energy industry better.
   because they were fed up with the way the
   energy industry treats customers, and with                 W | https://join.bulb.co.uk/
   how much businesses were charging for
   renewable energy. They saw an opportunity to
   make energy simpler, cheaper, and greener for              There is much more to do, and I am
   everyone - and made it their mission to do so.             still learning. I hope that this issue will

                                                                                         Zandra x
      Simpler: Bulb make energy simpler – They                inspire thinking and inspiration.
   have one, simple tariff for all. And you can
   speak to a human when you have a question.

                                                                                                               7
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IN FOCUS - YOUR HEALTH HUB
in focus

                                                                               YOU CAN
             editor’s
     favourites
                                                                               WIN ALL
                                                                               OF THIS!
                                                                              Details at the end
                                                                               of the article.

    Being more aware of what I use on a daily basis for health and wellbeing as well
    as for the Environment has been a huge learning curve. I wanted to share with
    you some of my favourite finds from this year!

    Georganics Mouthwash Tablets
    These mouthwash tablets are made from entirely
    natural and non-toxic ingredients. The fluoride,
    SLS and glycerine free formula helps to restore
    a healthy pH balance to your mouth, maintain
    good oral health and freshen your breath.
    Flavoured with organic essential oils these eco-
    friendly tablets, that you add to water, are ideal
    for everyday use and great for travelling.             Add mouthwash tablets to a drop of water and
       Georganics Mouthwash Tablets are made             gargle for a healthy mouth and fresh breath.
    entirely in Britain. All the ingredients are mixed   Natural flavours are used such as spearmint and
    together, adding organic essential oil and           thyme, with no alcohol or other damaging nasties
    natural colourings. The bulk is then gently          found in many commercial alternatives. Their
    heated to remove any moisture, and is collected      design also makes them easy to carry about.
    as dry powder. The powder is then run into a         They come in recyclable glass jar, packed in a
    press machine which turns it into tablets. The       compostable craft paper box.
    bulk tablets are collected and stored in large       W | georganics.com
    paper bags and then hand dispensed in retail         E | beauty@mantelpiecepr.com
    containers when more stock is needed.                Facebook, Twittwer, Instagram | @georganicsuk

                                         Alkaline Tea-bags
                                         Alkaline T bags are a very effective and economic way to
                                         transform ordinary bottled or filtered water into alkaline
                                         antioxidant water with good structure. The T bags use natural
                                         mineral crystals formed into ceramic balls to change the
                                         water. The T bag can be reused for upo to 30 days. This is an
                                         excellent way to trial the benefits of health promoting water.
                                         W | water-for-health.co.uk

8
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IN FOCUS - YOUR HEALTH HUB
www.yourhealthhub.uk

Green People for Men
Organic Shave Kit
For many men, shaving can feel like
a daily chore and one that they would
rather avoid. Discover the secret to
a comfortable shave that feels like a
morning pamper session with protective,
moisturising ingredients that keep the
skin supple and hydrated. Treat Dad this
Father’s Day with the Green People Organic
Men Organic Shave Kit. Comprised of three          peppermint and nourishing almond oil, intensely
concentrated organic products, this kit is great   hydrating organic formula
for travel and on-the-go grooming and includes;      Key ingredients include: Organic Aloe Vera,
  No. 1 Exfoliating Face Scrub 30ml                Yucca, green tea, bamboo stem and grapefruit
A gentle scrub with Bamboo extract and             (£14.95)
Cranberry powder to remove dead skin cells           Green People products are available from
  No. 2 Soothing Shaving Gel 30ml                  Waitrose, Ocado, Whole Foods, Planet Organic,
A 2-in-1 organic shaving gel and face wash         Revital and independent health retailers
containing soothing Aloe Vera - seaweed extract    nationwide, as well as online at
lubricates the skin and helps prevent razor burn   www.greenpeople.co.uk
and reduce nicks and cuts
  No. 3 Cooling Moisturiser 30ml
An aftershave moisturiser with cooling               Georganics Tooth Floss
                                                     Our natural silk floss is the perfect alternative
                                                     to conventional single use plastic dental
                                                     floss. Ahimsa silk is used as a cruelty free
100% Natural Magnesium Deodorant                     floss without the use for non
– antiperspirant with 0% aluminium                   recyclable nylon.
It will not only stop any unpleasant odour, but        The 30m floss comes in a
also provide the necessary portion of magnesium      reusable, plastic free, glass
through our skin without any                         dispenser and metal lid
involvement of our tired stomach.                    which allows to easily cut the
One roll-on around the armpits                       floss. The dispenser can be
will bring us up to 90% true                         re-used with our floss refills.
magnesium, will stop the smell for                     Supply: 30m gives 100
many hours, and the wonderful                        applications.
aroma from the natural Aussie                          Natural, sustainable and
shrub “Lemon Myrtle” which leaves                    conscientious.
a pleasant and delicate citrus scent.                W | georganics.com
   100% chemical-free, gentle on                     E | beauty@mantelpiecepr.
skin and the magnesium can help                      com
with other ailments.                                 Facebook, Twittwer,
W | Uk.karmarub.com                                  Instagram |
E | enquiries@uk.karmarub.com                        @georganicsuk
T | 07940 780932
                                                                                                         9
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IN FOCUS - YOUR HEALTH HUB
in focus

                                                           Jack and Jill Kids – Natural Tooth Care Set
                                                             Cornstarch toothbrush. Rounded nylon
                                                           bristles (soft) for superior cleaning.
                                                             Ergonomic handle made from 100% corn
                                                           starch non GMO!
                                                             Rinse mug Made from bamboo and rice
                                                           husks, this biodegradable cup is earth friendly
                                                           and cute!
                                                             With a matte finish and a familiar face, it
                                                           is perfect for hygienically storing Jack N’ Jill
                                                           products in the bathroom, rinsing after brushing
                                                           and even that midnight drink of water! Great
                                                           as a regular drinking cup as well. These are
                                                           naturally BPA & PVC free. Dishwasher safe.
                                                           Dimensions: 9cm (height) x 8cm (top diameter).
                                                             Jack N’ Jill Natural Toothpaste. Flavour
     NFco Original Toothpaste 100g                         free. Rich in xylitol, salicylate free, fluoride free,
     Natural toothpaste. Original Formula 100g             sugar free, colour free, SLS free, no artificial
     with native Australian rivermint. 70% organic         preservatives, gluten free, safety seal, easy
     ingredients.                                          open flip top cap, BPA free, minimal Recyclable
       Each NFco toothpaste is designed for the            Packaging – made in Australia.
     whole family. The Australian made gel formula           Ingredients: Xylitol, purified water, vegetable
     with native Australian rivermint is rich in xylitol   glycerin (coconut derived), silica, xanthan gum,
     and free from fluoride, SLS, parabens and             potassium sorbate (naturally derived), citric
     harsh chemicals.                                      acid.
       Australian River Mint (Mentha Australis)            W | jackandjillkids.com
     is native to the wild, pristine rain forests and
     waterways of eastern Australia. It is known
     for it’s fresh aromatic flavor and is used by
     indigenous Australians for medicinal purposes.
       Vegan, non GMO, fluoride free, paraben
     free, gluten free, soy free, sugar free, no
     artificial flavours or colours, cruelty free and
     SLS free.
       Contains 25% xylitol – amongst the highest
     available.

     NFco Bio-Degradable Cornstarch
     Toothbrush & Resin Stand
     Biodegradable toothbrush. Handle made
     from non-GMO cornstarch, soft nylon bristles,
     BPA free. Biodegradable packaging.
     W | nfco.co/nfcoukretail

10
www.yourhealthhub.uk

   Karma Rub – Magnesium Rub
   A totally natural magnesium product from
   Australia containing other trace elements to
   provide even more benefits.
     By applying Karma Rub to an area of the
   body you are delivering magnesium directly
   to where its needed most. Research has
   shown that the body retains about 90% of
   the magnesium from mag chloride when
   its applied to the skin as opposed to taking
   magnesium internally (30% retained).
   Applying to the skin also avoids upset
   stomachs. Idea for aches and pains,             5% magnesium sulphate, 5% other natural
   bruising, muscle fatigue and headaches          W | Uk.karmarub.com
   amongst other things.                           E | enquiries@uk.karmarub.com
     Average 35% - 45% magnesium, chloride,        T | 07940 780932

                                                   Studies on Quinoa protein see shine increase
Green People’s - Quinoa & Artichoke                by over 50% after just 5 washes. Intensely
Shampoo                                            conditioning; Quinoa protein also enhances
Dull and lacklustre hair? Artichoke boasts deep    the softness of your hair, making it more
cleansing properties to remove mineral deposits    manageable and easier to style. Multi-tasking
which could be causing dullness, revealing         Artichoke leaf boasts high levels of antioxidant
the natural high-shine beauty of your hair. Like   activity helping to repair damage from UV
a protective shield to the cuticles in the hair    exposure. Made with 91% certified organic
shaft, Artichoke leaves the hair’s surface flat                          ingredients. (£15.50/ 100ml
and smooth, giving shiny, sleek and frizz-free                           - £10.00)
locks. Looking for volume?                                                W | greenpeople.co.uk
Quinoa coats every shaft,
delivering body for hair that
looks thicker and fuller. Made
with 81% certified organic
ingredients. (200ml - £15.50/                                              NOW WIN
100ml - £10.00)                                                          ALL OF THESE!
                                                                              Simply email
                                                                      zandra@yourhealthhub.u
Green People’s - Quinoa &                                            with the title EDITORS FAV
                                                                                                  k
                                                                                                  S
Artichoke Conditioner 200ml                                          and you will be entered into
                                                                                                  a
Restore luxurious shine and                                         draw. Winners will be pic
                                                                                              ked at
vitality. Quinoa and Artichoke                                          random when the next
preserve the surface of the hair,                                        edition is published.
leaving both natural and coloured
hair with high-shine and brilliance.

                                                                                                       11
in focus

          can we do

     travel
           more to

     sustainablY?
      Before I introduce myself and
      prescribe some ideas and
      recommendations to get you
      travelling more sustainably, I have
      a few questions for you to answer.

      Question 1             Have you ever
      been in a car (driver or passenger)
      and made a journey that could have
      been done by another mode of
      transport? Unless you have never
      been in a car, I imagine your answer
      will be yes.

      Question 2                 Are you
      likely to consider other modes of
      transport if they were made easier
      (in terms of safety, time, money
      and convenience)? Hypothetically
      speaking, your answer is a yes, in
      reality, it’s not that straight forward.

12
www.yourhealthhub.uk

Can we do more to travel sustainably? Do we
want to? Do we need to?
  Hi I’m Ross. I’m a transport planner and
the volunteer Chair for an organisation
called Modeshift, supporting the delivery of
sustainable travel for organisations, schools,
communities in the UK. I was born and raised
in London, enjoying an integrated transport
system for the majority of my life before moving
to Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire nine
years ago. I own and drive a car for multiple        LEARN:
types of trips.                                      • Don’t know what your options are? Find
  I’m fully on-board, as are the majority of           out by visiting your local authority website
people in the UK believing that we need to pick        and Traveline www.traveline.info
up our game and be more proactive when it            • Can’t ride a bike and want to? Most
comes to sustainability. I need to switch out          councils offer Cycle skills training (by
more car trips for alternative modes of travel         qualified experts) for children and adults
and to do that I need to focus on what I can
do, rather than what others can do for me. For       TRy:
example, it’s easy to fall into the trap of ‘Why     • Switch out a journey to another mode,
don’t THEY build more cycle lanes’? Why don’t          look to car share (search lift share or clubs
THEY make buses free and more regular’?                in your areas), perhaps park further away
These examples are outside of my control and           and walk the rest of the journey
sit within what’s called ‘The Circle of Concern’.
They are what concern me; they drive negative
thoughts with zero action.
                                                     inform:
                                                     • Share what you are doing with family,
  In order to be proactive, I need to focus more       friends and colleagues
on my ‘Circle of Influence’. This is where I take    • Many schools and businesses around the
action, I make commitments and promises. For           country are very supportive of sustainable
example ‘I’ll try something new’, ‘I’ll get more       travel. Why not see what they are doing
information’, ‘I can’t change every journey but I      already, and if that’s nothing or very little,
can change that one’. See the difference? So if        here are some ideas
you’re willing to be proactive, what next?

  Modeshift STARS is a free scheme for                Changing your travel behaviour is not
  all schools in England. Schools can               only good for the environment, it can
  sign up, get ideas, bring about positive          also save you money and help you lead a
  change and receive an award for their             healthier life, but you know that already.
  achievements. There is also a Business            So, don’t wait for something to happen,
  version for organisations to sign-up              be proactive and make a change.
  and get involved. Like the school’s
  scheme, there are loads of ideas and an
  accreditation scheme to participate in.
  Visit www.modeshiftstars.org

                                                                                                        13
in focus

       Period
     Period poverty and the use
     of sustainable products by
                                            poverty
     ActionAid UK

     How much are you spending on periods in your       safe sanitary products they need to manage
     lifetime? Our calculator gives a stark reminder    their periods without shame or stigma.
     of the financial burden of menstruating. As a        In the countries that ActionAid UK works
     result of this cost, millions of women and girls   in, women and girls are often forced to use
     worldwide can’t afford to buy or access the        whatever they can to manage their periods,
                                                        including rags, newspapers and even tree
                                                        leaves. Those who have some pads may also
                                                        have no choice but to re-use the same one for
        Aida is a 16-year-old girl in Malawi            many days – putting their health at serious risk.
        who wants to be a nurse when she’s                These same women and girls often face
        older but who began to skip school              local taboos about menstruation as well, which
        because of the bullying she faced               restrict their way of life further.
        when she had no means of cleaning or              For example, in some cultures menstruating
        changing her pad. “The boys could see           women and girls are prohibited from using salt
        the cloth and they laugh at me, so I go         in their cooking; milking animals, and touching
        home to escape the bullying,” she says.         other family members during their cycle. They
                                                        are also told they can’t get pregnant if they

14
www.yourhealthhub.uk

have sex while they have their period. Girls      more vulnerable to child marriage and early
we work with have also reported facing ridicule   pregnancy – ultimately denying them their
at school when menstrual blood has leaked         basic right to be educated and reach their
through their clothing leading to missed days     potential.
and some drop out altogether.                       Mass-produced; disposable sanitary products
  It’s estimated that one in 10 girls in Africa   are also harming the environment due to
will miss school when they have their periods.    containing non-biodegradable materials. Most
Missing school or work, in the long run, can      sanitary pads contain up to 90 per cent plastic,
have a devastating impact on their potential      for example, while tampons have plastic
to live a normal life, support themselves and     applicators. This large-scale plastic production
contribute to their communities. Additionally,    releases vast amounts of greenhouse gases
girls missing out on school can leave them        which cause air pollution and global warming.
                                                    Improper disposal of sanitary products such
                                                  as wrapping them in plastic bags also fills up
                                                  landfills and takes years to biodegrade. Some
   Ishu is a 14-year-old girl in Nepal            sanitary products are also flushed down the
   who has to leave her family every
                                                  toilet, which could mean that they end up in the
   time she has a period because it’s
                                                  sea and washed up on our beaches. This has
   believed she will bring bad luck. She
                                                  detrimental effects for humans, the wildlife and
   is forced to live alone in a remote,
                                                  our land and oceans.
   windowless mud hut without warm
   clothes or running water. “I’m scared
   to stay alone in the hut”, she says,
   “I’m scared of ghosts and snakes [and
   that] bad people will come and attack
   me.” This practice is called chauppadi
   and although it has been illegal since
   2005, it’s still practised in many
   communities. In recent years, at least
   two girls are known to have died as a
   result of it.

                                                                                                     15
in focus

     ActionAid UK is running programmes                  cups are made of silicone and last 10 years,
                                                         leaving very little waste. They are also easy to
     worldwide to put an end to these                    use and safe as they can be sterilised using
     problems for good.                                  boiling water.
     We train women and girls to make reusable              Our work increases girls’ choice and access to
     sanitary pads, so they always have access to        sanitary products, putting their voices front and
     clean and affordable sanitary products, and will    centre when determining which products are
     always try to implement sustainable solutions,      most useful for their communities as well as for
     such as reusable DIY cloth pads.                    the environment.
       For example, in a pilot project in Malawi            In some situations, such as humanitarian
     women and girls are trained to make DIY             emergencies, it is difficult to promote sustainable
     pads with sewing machines to then sell at the       options. If there is no running water or means
     local market for a small sum supporting them        of cleaning and sewing, reusable pads and
     to become economically independent, and             menstrual cups are not effective. At times
     supporting girls education by distributing them     like this, we need public support to provide
     in local schools. https://www.actionaid.org.uk/     thousands of women and girls with hygiene kits
     blog/news/2019/05/24/how-to-make-your-own-          that contain more traditional sanitary pads.
     reusable-sanitary-pads                                 Ultimately however, our focus is on ending
       In many countries, and with support from          gender inequality because this is what causes
     players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, our       period poverty. We need to tackle the gender
     biggest donor, we have also opened more girls’      injustice that allows periods to hold women and
     rooms in schools, where girls can get changed,      girls back from reaching their full potential and
     use the toilet, access free fabric pads and learn   progress.
     sewing skills to make their own. They can also
     access more information about their periods, sex
     and pregnancy in these safe spaces, so they are
     better informed about their bodies.
       And, where appropriate, we distribute
     menstrual cups to women and girls. Menstrual
16
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Period
                                                               Use cotton
                                                              tampons or
                                                           sanitary towels

swaps
                                                                - some are
                                                               plastic free

Sustainable options that
won’t harm the environment

                               Try reusable
                              and washable
                                                Mooncups or menstrual
                             sanitary towels
                                               sea sponge tampons are
                              or underwear
                                                washable and reusable

                                               Directory
  Coming up in your local guide                 Listings
  to Health & Wellbeing...                     from £35
                                               payment plans
  In Focus Body, Health & Fitness.               available

  A look at fitness trends, allergy
  testing & supplements                        Zandra:
                                               T | 07866 587117
                                               or 01442 834398
  In Focus Demystifying holistics              E | zandra@yourhealthhub.uk
  and a look at women’s health
                                               www.yourhealthhub.uk

                                                                              17
in focus

     the                beauty
       of healthy skin
     The founder of Epionce, Dr Carl Thornfeldt has spent twenty-five years
     focusing on researching abnormalities of the skin barrier, cutaneous
     inflammation, drug delivery, herbs, and disease therapies.

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Epionce formulas are botanically based and
optimised to improve skin function by reducing
inflammatory factors while improving barrier
strength. The products are paraben free, gluten
free, fragrance free and are vegan friendly.
Epionce do not use or endorse animal testing
for any of their skincare products. It really does
sound too good to be true!!

   Just take a look at the three key
   technologies and ingredients used
   for maximising natural results:

   Anti-Inflammatory                                 Packaging
                                                     Many of the bottles, jars and tubes are made
   Technology                                        from either HDPE (High Density Polyethylene)
   Anti-Inflammatory Technology helps                or PETE (Polyethylene Terephthalate), all of
   block the formation and activation of             which can be recycled through most municipal
   inflammatory factors in the skin.                 recycling programs. All exterior product boxes
   Key Ingredients: Date Fruit Extract,              are made from SBS (solid bleach sulfate)
   Meadowfoam Extract, Apple Fruit                   paper- board, which can also be recycled
   Extract, Flax Extract.                            through most municipal recycling programs.

   Barrier Repair Technology
   Barrier Repair Technology helps
   strengthen and repair the natural
   protective skin barrier for optimal
   function. Key Ingredients: Safflower
   Extract, Avocado Extract, Meadowfoam
   Extract, Phytosterols, Phytosphingosine.

   Keratolytic Technology                                If you’d like to try before you buy, contact
   Keratolytic Technology encourages cell                Wendy at Tocolo who will provide you with
   turnover to remove dead skin cells, clear             some free samples. It really is an amazing
   pores of impurities and retexturize skin.             skincare range and worth a try.
   Key Ingredients: Azelaic Acid, Zinc                   T | 07824 553735
   Pyrithione, Salicylic Acid, Willow Bark               E | enquiries@tocolo.co.uk
   Extract.                                              W | tocolo.co.uk

                                                                                                        19
in focus

     what’s the
                    frequency?
     What every health practitioner needs                 A couple of hundred years ago, there was
                                                       very little or zero man-made EMF, no light
     to tell their clients, friends, family and        (bar fire or lamps), no electricity, no radio, no
     everyone about nnEMF                              microwaves, no TV, satellites, mobile phones,
                                                       Bluetooth.
                                                          The only EMFs that existed were natural from
     Firstly what is nnEMF?                            the sun, the earth and stars.
        EMF stands for Electro-Magnetic Frequency.        This is what we evolved with, developed with
     You may remember you learnt about this            over millions of years from when the earth held
     in Physics at school. EMF describes any           just basic life all the way up to the 18th/19th
     frequency from very high-frequency gamma          Century.
     rays down through x-rays, ultra-violet, visible      Is it that risky? Yes and no. We are exposed
     light, infrared, microwaves to radio waves.       to all sorts of naturally occurring EMF, most
        EMF is measured in Hertz (Hz – Frequency),     of which is beneficial. Infra-red is becoming
     this is the number of cycles (waves) per          a widely popular therapy method for many
     second. The more cycles per second the higher     conditions of the skin and soft tissues, visible
     the power (energy) of the wave depending on       light is pretty handy, there are even many
     Amplitude – how big the wave is. The “nn” bit –   positive effects of UVA and UVB for hormone
     this stands for non-native, i.e. man-made.        production, sleep, cell health and much more.
20
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                                                     the food in your microwave come out cold?
                                                     Having worked on RADAR in my time in the
                                                     Army, I also know how significantly dangerous
                                                     non-ionising radiation can be. The EMF used in
                                                     these devices GIVE energy to what they come
                                                     into contact with. Like water, of which you are
                                                     approximately 70%, give it enough energy and
                                                     it boils.
                                                        The frequencies that are being used can
                                                     interrupt cellular signalling. Blue light (out
                                                     of context from the Sun) affects vision and
                                                     sleep hormone production, in turn effecting
                                                     weight gain, mood, brain fog and gut function.
                                                     Mobile phone network frequencies (which
                                                     are becoming denser) and WiFi have a more
                                                     serious effect of cells opening up VGCC
                                                     (Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels), this lets
                                                     calcium move more freely around your body
                                                     rather than staying where it is needed, within
                                                     the cell. This can cause free radical production,
                                                     stress and inflammation which is known to
                                                     cause at least 70% (up to 90%) of the worlds
                                                     chronic disease.
   There was a saying in the Army Corps that            Avoidance and mitigation are key.
I worked in – “Like horse manure, spread it             Switch off WiFi, tablets, computers, Bluetooth,
thinly and it helps the crops grow, however, if      TV, smart meters and phones – they are
you keep it all in one place it just becomes a       affecting your health. How many devices are
steaming pile of sh1t”.                              around your home? How many can you switch
   EMF is a bit like this. What comes naturally      off? Do it now.
is what is ideal, it’s just that our lives have
changed to unnatural. Nature spreads the
muck far and wide and there should be a happy
healthy environment.
   The problem - we have abused the sub-visible
light spectrum. Microwave, radio wave, phone
networks have pulled up a huge steaming pile
of muck where there simply shouldn’t be.
   We are not adapted to the volume of
frequencies and constant bombardment from
this area of the spectrum and it’s getting worse.
You may hear arguments of “it is non-ionising”
which means it doesn’t directly damage the cell.
   It is also true that visible light has far more     Peter Houchin, Retrain Pain
energy than these frequencies being used for           AMN Practitioner Level 3
communication. However, we know that this is           W | retrainpain.co.uk
not strictly true, just look in your kitchen. Does
                                                                                                          21
in focus

     Bee good and
                                  create a                                  buzz
                                                       The decline in bees’ diversity and
                                                       abundance would have a serious impact
     Britain’s bees are in trouble. 35 UK
                                                       on how our natural world functions. This
     bees species are under threat of                  includes our food crops. (Source: Friends
     extinction, and all species face serious          of the Earth)
     threats. Right now, they need us                    Friends of the Earth have a whole host of
                                                       suggestions to help support our bees, have
     almost as much as we need them.                   a look at this link for more information
                                                       https://friendsoftheearth.uk/bees/bee-
                                                           cause-what-you-can-do
                                                             I have listed a few of my favourite Bee
                                                           related finds – and there is a chance to
                                                            win them all too…

                                                            natural/recycled materials. All of the
                                                            fabric used for the wraps has been
                                                            repurposed – typically preloved cotton
                                                            duvet covers, sometimes cotton shirts
                                                            or other suitable second-hand fabric.
                                                            This means that the fabric designs can
                                                            vary from kit to kit.
                                                         Beeswax food wraps are an eco-friendly
       KICA Beeswax Food Wrap Kit                      product, that can completely replace plastic
       The kit contains three pieces of cotton         food wrapping (cling film) and will last for
       fabric in different sizes (approx.16cm, 20cm    months. Even when they start to show signs
       and 25cm sq). Also included is a beeswax        of wear and tear, they can be repaired and
       bar, handmade from a blend of natural           made good as new by adding a bit more
       beeswax, pine resin and jojoba oil. All these   beeswax. At the end of their useful life, the
       ingredients are found naturally and contain     wraps are biodegradable – no nasties left in
       antibacterial properties. Finally, the kit      the earth for years to come!
       includes two large sheets of baking paper       Win a Beeswax Food Wrap Kit – details on
       and a full set of instructions on how to make   the opposite page.
       your wraps.
         The kit is completely plastic-free, and       W | kicacandles.com
       all packaging is recyclable or made from        FB and Insta | @kicacandles

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Neal’s Yard Remedies Bee Lovely range
Neal’s Yard Remedies launched its #SaveTheBees
campaign in 2011, raising £13,000 in its first year
and being awarded Best Campaign in the Ecologist’s
International Green Awards.
  The company launched its Bee Lovely range in 2012 to
support donations and took its 120,000 signature petition
to Downing street in 2013 requesting the ban of deadly
neonicotinoid pesticides.
  By 2018 £120,000 had been raised, for Bee Friendly
charities such as London’s Bee Keepers Association and              Balix beeswax candles
Plant life as well “Bees for Development” for its project in        Beeswax is a natural
Ghana, whereby Bee Colonies have been introduced into               renewable product that
Cashew Orchards, resulting in increased yields and more             does not require chemical
profit for farmers.                                                 processing.
  Honey used in the range is                                          When the bees make the
Fairtrade and sustainably and                                       wax it is almost white, it then
ethically sourced from small                                        “colours” to an amber hue
cooperatives in Mexico. Being                                       with propolis and pollen as
certified organic by the Soil                                       the bees go in and out of the
Association both the farmers                                        hive.
and bees are protected from                                           Our candles are hand-rolled
harmful synthetic chemicals.                                        from sheets of cleaned wax
Win something from the                                              and burn cleanly imparting a
Bee Beautiful range –                                               subtle honey-like scent.
details below.                                                      Win a set of beeswax T-Light
Contact Julie Bertelli                                              candles – details below.
T | 07854 427670                                                    Contact Jill and Alex McNally,
W | beautyfromnature.co.uk                                          Balix Beeswax Candles
                                                                    T | 07879 614123

SOAPS 4You - Bee Bar Soap
The antibacterial and smoothing properties of
bee wax make it perfect soap ingredient. Bee                                 NOW WIN
wax makes the skin elastic and smooth and the
soap can be used every day. Thanks to that
                                                                           ALL OF THESE!
wax the soap contains proteins, lipids, vitamins, valuable                       Simply email
mineral salts which have a positive effect on every type of skin.       zandra@yourhealthhub.u
                                                                                                    k
  Bee wax soap gently washes and protects our skin, nourishes           with the title BEE GOOD
                                                                                                  for
and prevents it from drying, regenerates and exfoliates the             that chance. Winners will
                                                                                                  be
epidermis. Contains aromatic compositions based on natural oils           drawn at random when
and has a pleasant natural honey and milk scent.                              the next edition is
Win a bar of the Bee Bar Soap – details right.                                   published.
W | soaps4you.eu
                                                                                                        23
Your Health Hub’s featured charity

     Today protecting our environment is
     a priority for everyone and charity
     shops have been at the forefront of
     championing sustainability for years.

     Returned
                                   to Glory
                                                       their precious lives well. All hospice care is
                                                       provided free and, to fund the very special
                                                       work they do in the local community, the
     The Charity Retail Association, the voice         Hospice needs to raise over £5 million pounds
     of charity retail reported that each year the     each year. Their shops play a vital role in
     charity sector is able to sell or recycle over    raising this money making over £100,000 a
     90% of donated clothing, over 90% of donated      year alone by recycling clothes which cannot
     books and 85% of donated electrical goods.        be sold.
     This diverts waste away from landfill – 373,000     The Hospice’s furniture showroom Returned
     tonnes each year alone whilst improving           to Glory goes one step further. By repairing,
     recycling and re-use rates. It also reduces       renovating and upcycling unloved pieces that
     C02 emissions by over 7 million tonnes in the     would otherwise be disposed of, the team
     process.                                          of talented volunteers at Returned to Glory
       The Hospice of St Francis in Berkhamsted        transform undesirable items of furniture.
     celebrates its 40th birthday this year and        Their extensive workshop programme means
     its overarching aim it to help people live        that anyone can try their hand at their own
24
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upcycling including chalk painting, upholstery,
and lampshade making to name but a few.
Returned to Glory has also joined the mission
to reduce the use of single use plastic by
stocking products from The Refill Project. You
can fill your pre-owned (and washed) empty
containers with ethically sourced household
cleaning and bathroom products.
   number twenty The Hospice’s multi-award-
winning gift and home interiors shop in Lower
Kings Road, Berkhamsted is doing its bit too.
It has a growing range of eco-friendly products
from beeswax wraps and insect hotels to
recycled coffee cups, glasses and bags.
Buyers are focusing on sourcing more of these
products when they visit trade shows as well
as supporting local artists and craftsmen and
number twenty’s recent success in winning
Dacorum Business Heroes Award reflects this.
   Shopping in charity shops mean you can
shop guilt-free and support the environment
too. By shopping at one of The Hospice’s
eight shops, not only is there is the opportunity
to grab a wonderful bargain, you also have the
satisfaction of knowing you are contributing to
a sustainable society with all the money raised
going to support the very special work the
Hospice does in the local community.

                                                    Returned to Glory, Northbridge Road,
                                                    Berkhamsted. HP4 1EH.
                                                    returnedtoglory@stfrancis.org.uk
                                                    number twenty, 20 Lower Kings Road,
                                                    Berkhamsted. HP4 2AB
                                                    The Hospice of St Francis charity shops
                                                    can be found across Hertfordshire.

                                                                                           25
in focus

     a quick snapshot

               upcyclers
      of some local

     When you start to look around it is
     amazing how many clever, crafty people
     are out there, doing amazing things with
     discarded and preloved items. There are
     many out there, but here I share a few of
     my favourite finds locally!

        Twee Life – Bird Feeders
        Twee have created handmade rustic fat ball
        feeders. Everyone is different and has its
        own natural character. They are created by
        up-cycling logs from my brothers tree surgery
        business. They feeders are really easy to refill,
        just push in new fat balls.
        They will attract a wide range of birds to your
        garden. A great gift or as a treat for yourself.
        Only £10 each.
        At Twee we sell a range of homemade,
        homegrown produce. Based in Great
        Gaddesden, Hemel Hempstead.
        Give our products a try. Everyone needs a little
        Twee in their life! See our website for a list of
        local events, stockists and how to buy online.
        W | tweelife.co.uk

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                        KICA Candles – Upcycled and   KICA Candles are beautifully
                                                      scented, soy wax candles
                             Handmade Homewares       with an earth-friendly twist.
                                                      Every one of these unique,
                                                      handmade candles comes in
                                                      a lovingly upcycled food tin
                                                      or used coffee jar. Not only
                                                      do they smell fantastic and
                                                      last for ages, but there isn’t a
                                                      single bit of plastic packaging
                                                      in sight. The colourful,
                                                      shabby chic style candles
                                                      are handmade in Leighton
                                                      Buzzard using natural wax
                                                      and recyclable materials.
                                                      The perfect eco gift for any
                                                      candle lover!
                                                      W | kicacandles.com
                                                      FB and Insta |
                                                      @kicacandles

Re-loved /Re-purposed
Bain Ellisdon and Catty O’Donnell are local
designers making unique items that are gentle
on the environment, and are based in Home
and Colonial in Berkhamsted.
Bain produces one off pieces using vintage
saris, Japanese silks and upholstery fabrics to
make fabulous cushions, bags and has created
a range of wonderful decoupage lanterns.
Catty as The Green Dresser believes that
plants – both house and garden enhance our
homes, and our environment. She sources
vintage china, silver plate and pottery and
plants with houseplants and seasonal bulbs.
Once bloomed, plant in the garden leaving the
re-loved piece to receive new plants – new life!
We will be running Workshops and Pop-up
shops locally too.
Full details on their Instagram |
@bainellisdondesign @thegreendresser6367
                                                                                         27
A Retreat like no other!

No 6am starts, no detox, no strict regime on this Retreat!

Enjoy historical and cultural    Ideal for solo travelers,
excursions, local food           couples, friends as it’s all
and wine, Pilates classes,       organised for you!
relaxed ‘holiday Spanish’        Retreats are in Puerto de
lessons, walking, cycling,       Mazarron, on The Costa
swimming, exploring the          Calida, an unspoilt resort
area, relaxing on the beach,     on the south-easterly warm
swimming in the sea or in        coast of Murcia.
the pool. The list of optional
activities is endless.
Stay in luxury apartments
near the coast or in a
tranquil villa 5 mins drive
from the coast.

www.costacalidaspanish.com                    Email: hola@costacalidaspanish.com
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  l experience. She offers a discreet,
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                                                                                                                           29
in focus

                          Eco holidays
                                     We all love our holiday’s – why not
The Findhorn Foundation

                                     consider an Eco holiday? Whether it be a low carbon
                                     venue, an Eco Holiday that supports local communities
                                     or an environmentally friendly venue, there are lots to
                                     chose from. Here are some for you to look over.

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   Rainbow Lodge, Cambodia
  Rainbow Lodge, Cambodia is a purpose-built
  Eco Lodge in the foothills of the Cardamom
  Mountains in Cambodia. (Est. 2008). Enjoy a
  10-minute boat ride with spectacular scenery
  to join our welcoming team and comfortable
  eco-friendly bar, dining area and private en
  suite bungalows.                                    All meals are included using local produce
    You can simply chill in a hammock on            as much as possible. Hybrid solar power
  your own balcony or you can join one of our       system plus our own filtered water. Eco as we
  guided activities to take you on the river or     can and improving.
  into the jungle and explore all nature has to       Community projects supported include
  offer, all levels of fitness catered for.         the local village and school. Guests are
                                                    encouraged to visit them.
                                                      Free kayaks and paddleboards are
                                                    available and swimming in the river is safe!
                                                      After all that activity, why not check out the
                                                    spa for a Thai and Cambodian massage,
                                                    manicures and pedicures.
                                                      NB. Due to its remote location and position,
                                                    RL is not suitable for those with mobility
                                                    issues.

The Findhorn Foundation – Holistic
Learning Centre in Scotland
The Findhorn Foundation is a retreat centre for
transformational learning set within a renowned
ecovillage and spiritual community. It is located
on the beautiful Moray Firth, east of Inverness.
  You can enjoy a variety of events from our
programme and get to experience life in this
vibrant community by joining us in a way that is    to celebrate the past and welcome the new into
right for you.                                      your life.
  Our signature workshop, Experience Week             For however long you come, you will be part
has given thousands of people over 40 years         of this unique spiritual community, taking part
a new way of experiencing life. You can             in our daily life and practice. Our service is to
also take part in workshops such as animal          provide transformational learning to people from
communication, dance workshops, crystal             all over the world.
healing, certified training session such as
Esalen massage and special events with              T | 01309 691653
teachers such as Robert Holden PhD. Many            W | findhorn.org
people love our New Year workshops as a way         E | pr@findhorn.org
                                                                                                        31
in focus

     Green & Away
     Green & Away is the UK’s oldest environmental
     conference centre - now an all purpose
     outdoor venue. In 2020 it celebrates its 30th
     birthday after providing a space for outdoor
     environmentally sound conferences and events
     for a wide range of organisations.
       Each year Green & Away builds a village under
     canvas near Worcester for 200 people - kitchen,        parties, company retreats etc - all of which mean
     cafe, meeting spaces, furnished bedroom                that we are not just preaching to the converted.
     tents, solar electricity, composting toilets, wood     Many are the people who have said that time
     showers, all using a team of volunteers, and           with us has changed their lives. Our ethos is that
     we use the site to teach about the environment.        events must be beautiful and comfortable, and
     When it began, it was the only venue in Europe         that the reason so many decisions our species
     set up to be environmentally sustainable. Now          make are bad for the planet is because we
     every year we see a steady flow of interns             live our lives separated from nature. At Green
     and volunteers learning about how to run an            & Away we live closer to nature, so we can
     environmentally sound human settlement at first        appreciate the changes we need to make to live
     hand.                                                  more sustainably.
       Our first events were for organisations in the          So if you want to organise an event, or want to
     environmental movement - the Soil Association,         volunteer or become an intern; or be our artist in
     the Green Party, the New Economics Foundation          residence, or scientist in residence, contact us
     etc. Now we also cater for weddings, anniversary       on www.greenandaway.org.

                                                            array of reclaimed materials, and a quaint
      Alde Garden
                                                            village pub which was selected as one of
      Alde Garden is a tiny wildlife garden in the          CAMRA’s top 10 eco pubs in 2019.
      heart of the Suffolk countryside with an eclectic       Camping and garden accommodation
      array of accommodation. Choose from yurts             available May-September; pub and cottage
      (handbuilt by the site owners), gypsy caravan,        available all year.
      tree-hut, bell tent or bring your own tent. Quirky
      facilities include a jungle shower, pizza oven,       T | 01728 664178
      campfire and ‘Treebog’ compost toilet. Friendly       W | aldegarden.co.uk
      ducks and chickens roam free.                         E | info@aldegarden.co.uk
        The countryside location is perfect for
      exploring on foot, or make use of the free bike
      hire and local cycle routes.
        Framlingham is just 4 miles away, and the
      beautiful coastline is just 10 miles from the site.
        This site has won many environmental
      awards and has made interesting use of
      repurposed materials throughout.
        Also on site is a cosy 4 star holiday cottage
      which has been lovingly restored using a vast

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ecoYoga, Argyll
Nick and Rachel created the ecoYoga Centre
at Inverliever Lodge as an expression of
their belief in a healthy, happy, carbon-free
and sustainable lifestyle. The transformation
from an old outdoor centre to its present
incarnation as a luxurious but still genuinely
‘eco’ holiday experience is now complete. Set    station, plus solar panels. Our water comes
in magnificent Scottish scenery; hills, lochs,   directly from a natural spring situated just
rivers and forests abound.                       above the centre, making us both ‘off-grid’ and
  The ecoYoga Centre is totally off-grid,        truly sustainable.
powered by our small hydro-electric power          Relax and rejuvenate in luxurious ‘eco’ style
                                                 by soaking in our natural wooden hot tub, or
                                                 in one of our hideaway bathing spots near the
                                                 river. We run yoga retreats throughout the year
                                                 or when retreats are not running stay with us
                                                 on a self-catering basis.

                                                 T | 01546 810259
                                                 W | ecoyoga.org
                                                 E | info@ecoyoga.org

                                                                                                   33
in focus
                                                                    Did you know
                                                                that changing environmental
                                                              factors in our lives can override
                                                              a genetic predisposition towards
     Individually, we don’t have the                           developing a disease? This is a
     power to change the air outside of                      huge idea to get our heads around.
     our homes, but we can do a lot to                          It boils down to this: we have
                                                             within our power the choice to help
     change what’s within it. (Keep putting                    avoid conditions eg arthritis by
     pressure on your local MPs and more                      addressing the way we live, eat,
     to change the air, though!)                                    play, sleep and manage
                                                                           our stress!

     a herbalists view on
     environmental
           health
     Think about what you breathe, what you
     clean with, what you put on your skin/hair/       By Lucy Blunden
     teeth. All of these things can bring additional
     chemical load to our bodies. When our
     bodies are exposed to chemicals in the
     outdoor environment, we assume that our
     bodies will get on and deal with it. And,
     most of the time they do. This is called
     detoxification and is an on-going natural
     process your body is undertaking right now
     involving your liver, kidneys, skin, immune
     and lymph systems.

     Home air:
     Do you have air fresheners? Many of these
     contain chemicals which have long-term
     negative impacts on aquatic environments.
     What might it be doing to your body – after
     all, our chemical make-up is largely water?

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House and body cleaning products:                    better than eg a sanitiser and leave your skin
Look under your kitchen sink and at the back of      protected.
your toiletries. Look at all those hazard warnings     Alternative brands I like are: Green Wyse
which end up in our water system!                    (great handmade vegan products by herbalist
  Try out some green cleaning methods (white         Dawn Ireland; plastic-free for years), Avalon
vinegar and bicarbonate of soda +/- tea tree         Organics, Faith in Nature, Neal’s Yard
oil does wonders) or a good old-fashioned            Remedies. They may be a little more expensive
detergent-based cleaner! I effectively clean         but when we spend a bit more, we buy less and
inside the glass oven door with bicarb and a bit     actually use them up! Double bonus?
of elbow grease, it just lifts off the grime!
  Bleach is another one. Kills *all* known
germs… that includes ones we need to live a
healthy life. Bacterial resistance is contributed           Making you feel
to by the use of anti-bacterial agents. They are
                                                          the need to ‘detox’?
non-specific and kill off both ‘good’ and ‘bad’
                                                         Clear out your toxic cupboards and
bacteria. Antibacterial handwashes remove
                                                     clean up your diet with loads of green and
the commensal ‘good’ bacteria protecting
                                                     colourful vegetables to assist your natural
your skin as well as the ‘bad’. Soap
                                                       cleaning systems. (I am not fond of the
and hot water will remove the nasties
                                                      term ‘Detox’ because it’s often touted as
                                                     a lifestyle holiday for 2 weeks after which
                                                        normal service resumes once again.
                                                             Our bodies are in a constant
                                                           state of detoxification; a natural
                                                            biological process. It doesn’t
                                                              happen in a tea bag once
                                                                      per week!)

                                        About Lucy: If you feel you need to assist your detoxification
                                        systems, herbalists are ace players in this field as our gentle,
                                        plant remedies nourish, repair and replenish. Contact me to find
                                        out more.
                                        Lucy Blunden: I am a medical herbalist and it brings me great
                                        joy to unearth the emotions beneath physical symptoms. Almost
                                        every disease begins after an emotionally significant event. I
                                        use plant medicines, food and EFT to change people’s lives.
                                        De-fuse the power of those emotions, address the symptoms
                                        and begin your journey to better.

                                        T | 07492 511 366
                                        W | lucyblundenherbal.com
                                        Facebook | facebook.com/HertsHerbalist
                                        Twitter | @HertsHerbalist

                                                                                                           35
in focus

     why is pure
              drinking water
              so important for us?

     For good health, we need safe, healthy and supportive environments.
     The environment we live in determines our wellbeing. Factors such
     as water contaminants, air quality, food and many more affect our
     health. Pure drinking water is one of the most important factors.

     Did you know that contaminated water can           impact of this, a new study suggests that
     impose serious health risks to the human           globally we are ingesting an average of 5
     body as well as marine life? Contaminants like     grams of plastic every week, the equivalent of
     heavy metals, chlorine, hormones, antibiotics,     a credit card. This contamination comes from
     and pesticides, bacteria etc. in your drinking     micro plastics which are making their way into
     water are harmful for all of us and affect our     our food, drinking water and even the air which
     health but also the entire eco system.             long term effects on our mind, body and overall
       When water leaves the treatment plants it        health.
     travels for hundreds of miles through pipes
     that have been underground since Victorian         What’s the solution?
     times. By the time it reaches our homes, it        Investing in a high quality under the sink
     has picked up more contaminants through            filtration system means healthy drinking water
     those pipes that are all affecting our health in   straight from your tap at home, completely
     negative ways.                                     contaminant free, no more waste from plastic
       Plastic water bottles are also no better         bottles and saves money. The body consists
     solution as this is equally impacting the          of more than 70% of water and hence clean,
     environment and air as well as human beings        filtered water is the best beverage to hydrate
     due to plastic leaching into the water. The        our cells to live a long, healthy life.

36
www.yourhealthhub.uk

                                            About:
                                            Amandeep Sofat is the owner of SBM Water UK Ltd.
                                            and is very passionate in supporting people to lead a
                                            healthy fulfilled life by providing pure, healthy delicious
                                            drinking water straight from your tap at home.

                                            About SBM:
                                            SBM Water UK Ltd. –Your water your life.
                                            We specialises in providing high quality water filter
  With only one change, you can
                                            machines in residential and commercial premises. Our
make a huge difference to the
                                            aim is to provide pure, healthy, delicious and convenient
quality of your own life, your overall
                                            drinking water in every household worldwide.
health and your environment. It
is our responsibility to create a           Sbm Water UK
healthy environment for our family,         W | sbmwater.co.uk
our young generation and many               T | +44(0)7930982488
more generations to come. If you            E | enquiries@sbmwater.com
don’t have a filter, you are the filter.

   IV Nutrition Clinic
   Wellness treatments
   Personalised plan,
   quick acting, safe delivery
   and monitoring.
   More effective than oral
   vitamins and minerals.

    IV Nutrition Clinic, The Suite, 63, London Road, St Albans AL1 1LJ
    Telephone: 01727 223074 | Instagram: @iv_nutrition
    Email: ivnutrition.stalbans@gmail.com

    www.ivnutrition.co.uk

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