Dr Susan Jamieson & Holistic Central Medical Practice

BodyTalk is an astonishingly simple and effective holistic therapy that allows the body’s energy systems to be re-synchronized so they can operate as nature intended.

BodyTalk involves special techniques to integrate the neurological pathways in the brain and body, optimizing right-left hemispheric connections and so enabling us to think more clearly and respond more effectively when overloaded at work. There are many ways in which our body’s energy systems can get out of sync, and BodyTalk can help in these cases. It is also recognized in treating stress and anxiety, or even dyslexia, autism, and ADHD.

Overwork:

‘Switching’ is a state of shock in which the brain’s functions are partially shut down. Frighteningly, this happens to us all when we push ourselves too much, for example when you work for hours at a time without a break you may notice your pace is slowing noticeably. An extreme example is when a marathon runner, ‘hits the wall’, a point at which their body indicates — through exhaustion and low blood sugar — that it’s no longer able to function or co-ordinate as it should do.

Brain circulation reduced from head trauma:

The spheno-basilar junction at the base of the brain is responsible for regulating the brain’s blood supply. It affects the workings of the pituitary gland, an important ‘control centre’ responsible for our hormones, stress, growth and renal output. Unfortunately, even a small bang on the head — just where the upper cranial plates join — can impair the functioning of the spheno-basilar junction.

Please visit our BodyTalk home page to learn more and to see client testimonials.

In some parts of the world, March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month. Mention colorectal cancer and people get squeamish, about both the screening for the disease, and the disease itself. This therefore seems a good opportunity to discuss cancer screening.

As a general rule, having an annual physical is a good time to address this issue, bearing in mind that with the low risk of death from other once life threatening diseases, cancer is the leading cause of death for those in the Westernised world, specifically: Cancer is the leading cause of death in Americans under the age of 65.

Whilst there is much debate about screening, we emphasise the difference between population based screening protocols done by Government bodies, such as the UK NHS – where the cost effectiveness of a test is studied – and individual recommendations.

As private doctors, we are concerned about the individual and with screening tests for prostate, ovarian and breast cancer, Dr. Jamieson has picked up a handful of patients with early stages of cancer.  They were diagnosed at a very early stage and successfully treated, and she feels this outweighs the mild anxiety patients may have over false positive test results.

Below is some information you may find useful. The statistics shown are for average cases. Lifestyle, genetics and other medical conditions may put you more or less at risk. I strongly advise that you arrange a consultation so that we can advise on the most appropriate screenings for you and your family

Of course, screening is one thing. Prevention is another!  Eat healthily and keep fit!

Breast cancer

Lifetime risk of being diagnosed: 1 in 8 (women); 1 in 769 (men)*

In the UK 81% of breast cancer occurs in women over the age of 50 and mammogram screening is usually only recommended in those over 40. Over 90% of women diagnosed in the earliest stages of breast cancer go on to lead normal lives when treated. In the UK, since the NHS national screening programme was introduced in 1988, deaths from breast cancer have fallen dramatically.

Mammography is the most commonly used screening method and has 80% sensitivity, meaning it may miss up to 20% of cancers. Mammography is less effective in younger women. It is now common to also have an ultrasound scan together with a mammogram. Ultrasound scans have an 83% sensitivity rate in all age groups, and ultrasound has the ability to detect some cancers missed by mammography. Note that cancer diagnosis can only be done with a biopsy, screening simply calls attention to abnormalities.

Genetic factors contribute significantly to the risk of developing breast cancer, so you should discuss with your doctor a suitable screening programme to suit you.

Cervical cancer

Lifetime risk of being diagnosed: 1 in 147 (women)*

Cervical cancer is common, killing over 270,000 women per year worldwide according to Cancer Research UK. One of the main causes is the HPV virus, however secondary factors such as smoking and poor diet will also lead to this cancer.

Unfortunately, a high percentage of women already have HPV. Fortunately, the virus goes on to cause cervical cancer in only a tiny fraction of those infected. Therefore, whilst diagnosis of HPV is helpful, it does not mean the patient will get cancer, and this has to be taken into consideration with other risk factors.

Regular screening usually detects abnormal cells before they become cancerous and in the UK, since the introduction of cervical screening in the 1980s, rates of cervical cancer have almost halved. Regular screening is not usually recommended for younger women as the cells of the cervix are are in continuous change. Note that even though a patient may have had the HPV vaccine, they are still advised to undergo screenings because the vaccine only protects against the most common strains of the virus.

Ovarian Cancer

Lifetime risk of being diagnosed: 1 in 71 (women)*

If ovarian cancer is caught while still confined to the ovary, the 5-year survival rate is 92% however most women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed with advanced stage disease. Current screening methods – the CA125 blood test or the transvaginal ultrasound – are not as reliable as we would like as they can produce false negative (as high as 50% in a recent study) and false positive (8.4% in a recent study) results.

Having said this, Dr. Jamieson has picked up a few cases of ovarian cancer by doing this routine screening test so is keen to continue with it, warning women that nothing is 100% accurate. False positives may occur, leading to further investigations such as ovarian scanning.

Colorectal (bowel) cancer

Lifetime risk of being diagnosed: 1 in 19 (men) and 1 in 20 (women)*

In the UK 80% of people diagnosed with colorectal cancer are aged over 60, so screening is only usually recommended after the age of 60. However, lifestyle choices such as smoking, lack of exercise and diet, a family history of bowel cancer, and illnesses such as diabetes, Crohn’s Disease and Irritable bowel disease (IBD), as well as other factors can increase your risk. If caught early, cure is usually successful and finding and removing polyps or other areas of abnormal cell growth may be one of the most effective ways to prevent colorectal cancer development.

There are several screening methods, including the faecal occult blood test (FOBT), colonoscopy, double contrast barium enema (DCBE) and a simple rectal exam. We can advise on the most suitable screening test(s) for you.

Prostate cancer

Lifetime risk of being diagnosed: 1 in 6 (men)*

The medical profession is undecided, because of inconclusive studies, whether screening saves lives or not. In the UK about 75% of cases are in men aged over 65. However, doing a prostate cancer enzyme blood test as part of your yearly medical is easy to do, and it often picks up abnormalities.

Concerns surround false positive and false negative results, as well as the fact that some prostate cancers grow so slowly that they may never threaten the patient’s life, especially as the patient may be in his later years. However, if diagnosed and caught early, treatment can be 90% effective. Prostate screening is definitely a decision to be made on discussion with a doctor.

Testicular cancer *

Lifetime risk of being diagnosed: 1 in 270 (men)

Although this is a rare cancer, the ‘screening’ is simple and should be done by your doctor at annual physical time, and she or he can then show you how to do a testicular self examination. The cancer, if it does occur, is most commonly found amongst young men aged 15-35 and treatment is usually successful.

* National Cancer Institute, USA

Did you know Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to an increased incidence of cancer?

The authors of a 2006 article in the American Journal of Public Health, having reviewed more than 60 studies on Vitamin D and Cancer, state that with improved levels of Vitamin D in the body, the incidence of breast cancer could be reduced by 50% and colon cancer by 80%.

Vitamin D deficiency has recently become a topic of conversation as  we’ve only been able to accurately measure the levels of Vitamin D in the past 10 years. In addition, less time spent outdoors has meant that more people are Vitamin D deficient.

How are your vitamin D levels? Make an appointment with the practice nurse for a free checkup. To make a booking, call 2523 8044.

By Dr Sharmeen Shroff
Psy.D. Clinical Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology, San Francisco

You’re so excited! Your child has been admitted into your top choice preschool, kindergarten or primary school. You’ve spent all summer talking about it and you sent little one off to school. But now the novelty has worn off, it feels like you and your child are at war. It may start first thing in the morning with your child hiding under their bed, or refusing to get dressed. It may only start later once you take your first step in to the new school. The tears and tantrums begin and your child clings to your side. You ask yourself, “What went wrong?”
Remember, your child is entering a new place with novel surroundings and different people. It is normal for your child put up some level of resistance. Your child may be scared, nervous or over tired – think about how you felt just before your first day at a new job.
Here are a few tried and tested tips to help your little one adjust to a new school:

1. Keep the child informed: Talk to them about the structure of the day and discuss how it differs from the routine they have been used to all summer.
2. Drop them off yourself: Try to take them to school yourself. Don’t leave it up to the domestic helper or driver to take them to school. They need to be with the people they feel most safe and secure with.
3. Don’t leave immediately: Spend some time familiarising your child and yourself with their new classroom and teachers. Show them toys that you think they would be particularly interested in. When you do leave, get down on the floor so you are eye to eye with your child and assure them that you will be back to collect them at the end of the day.
4. Talk to the teacher: If you find your child is having difficulties separating from you, then explain this to their teachers. Often tantrums and tears are just for your benefit and they may cease once you leave the school. If you and the teacher can devise a routine for dropping your child at school it will make them feel more comfortable and secure.
5. Find them a friend: Talk to other parents dropping their children off and try and arrange some play dates so your children can become familiar with each other outside the school environment. In this way they can have a buddy at school and this will help them feel more comfortable.
6. Your child feeds off your vibes: You’re probably anxious about leaving your little one at school and they will sense this, which may cause them to act out more than usual. Try and remember that your child is in the hands of professionals. Their tantrums and tears are all a normal phase of development. Try and hold it together in front of your child and then if you are really concerned you can call the school an hour after you leave – hopefully you’ll be pleasantly surprised at just how well they are settling in.

Eat real food
— and then not too much, and mostly plants

Your diet is the best medicine to prevent heart disease, cancers, Alzheimers, and many other illnesses

There are many theories concerning diet and health, yet over the years as I have studied and worked as a naturopathic physician and nutritionist I have come to the conclusion that the truth is quite simple. It’s all about eating  healthy and natural wholefoods. I have recently read The Blue Zones, a book I highly recommend which looks at the lifestyles of four of the longest living communities in the world and as a result I am convinced I am right,

Michael Pollan, a renowned modern food philosopher, puts it more eloquently than I: ”Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.“  That is, eat a natural, whole-food diet, high in fruit, vegetables and whole-grains and low in animal protein, sugar, junk food and processed food. Following this advice not only  prevents but also treats many diseases. In fact, the impact of diet on health is best illustrated by the research that shows the foods a women eats when pregnant can affect the health and genes not only of her children but even that of her grandchildren.

 

The good

 

Eat a rainbow of colours: The scientific research is definitive: a diet high in fruit and vegetables lowers the risk of developing cardiovascular disease including strokes, protects against many cancers and alzheimers; guards against cataracts and macular degeneration, plus much more.

The latest research shows that vegetables are in fact the most important in maintaining optimal health. Ideally we would all have access and be able to afford organic food, free of pesticides and toxins. Failing that, you should try to go organic for the  following ‘dirty dozen’ fruit and vegetables: apples, celery, strawberries, peaches, spinach, nectarines, grapes, sweet bell peppers, potatoes, blueberries, lettuce and kale.  These have been identified as being more prone to pesticide contamination by the Environmental Working Group, an organisation that works to protect public health,

Some of the least toxic — the “clean 15” — include onions, sweet corn, avocado, pineapple, asparagus, sweet peas, eggplant, mangoes, kiwi, cabbage, watermelon, mushrooms, grapefruit and sweet potatoes.

Eat at least five servings (serving = ½ cup) and preferably 10 servings a day.  You should also eat a ‘rainbow of colours’ with the different colours representing different phytonutrients which provide the protection we need; the darker the colour the richer the nutrient.  For example, iceberg lettuce is almost nutrient devoid, so I recommend choosing romaine, rocket and other darker green salad leaves.  Of all plant foods, darkly coloured blackberries have the highest content of antioxidants.

 

Don’t forget the fibre: Grains provide the main fibrer needed for healthy bowel movements, to help prevent diverticulitis, and provide many nutrients. However, eating the wrong grains, or too much can lead to health complications.  Always eat whole grains, nothing white and refined.  Try to limit wheat to once a day, as it is becoming a very common food intolerance.  Rather, replace wheat with grains like quinoa, wild and brown rice, millet, oats, spelt, barley and corn.  When trying to lose weight, limiting grains to once a day can be very helpful.

 

The good and bad

Choose the right oils: Avoid partially hydrogenated oils which contain trans fats, the fats that lead to cardiovascular disease.  Instead, include good oils in your diet  as these contain essential nutrients in them that nourish us and are necessary for good health.

In particular, the right balance of omega-3s help prevent inflammation and promotes healing, is beneficial for pain prevention, lowers blood pressure, cardiovascular disease risk and lipid panels, and assists in insulin sensitivity so is useful in metabolic syndrome and diabetes.  Omega-3s are anti-allergic, lead to vasodilation  and prevent platelet aggregation, thereby helping to prevent strokes.  They keep cell walls healthy so that receptors cells and neurotransmitters work as they should, improving mood and physiological function.  DHA, one of the omega-3 fatty acids, helps fight cancer and is needed for neural and cognitive development in infants.

Good oils are found in organic butter, extra virgin olive oil and unrefined, high-oleic safflower oil.  Coconut oil is also good to use. If you are dairy sensitive, you can buy Earth Balance or Smart Balance instead of butter and margarine. These products are available at city’super. The best source of omega-3s is from oily fish but also eggs, seeds and nuts.

 

Choose the right proteins: The world of protein is complex and controversial.

As a society we eat way too much animal protein and the animal protein we are consuming is extremely unhealthy.  If one looks at the work by Ornish and Barnard and studies on the Seventh Day Adventists, a vegan diet is shown to prevent cancer, cardiovascular disease and to promote longevity.

But a vegan diet is not necessarily healthy nor practical for all.  As a compromise, eat animal protein only once a day or possibly every second day.  As a replacement, eat healthy vegetable sources of protein like nuts and seeds, legumes like peas, beans and lentils, and organic soy products like tofu, tempeh and miso.  Organic soy, which is not genetically modified, is protective against breast cancer, prostate cancer, balances out female menstrual problems and lowers cholesterol. While cutting down on animal protein, you are providing the body with foods high in essential fats, fiber and nutrients.

When it comes to dairy, if you are not intolerant, it is essential to buy organic products to prevent the consumption of hormones and toxins.  Eggs too should be organic and free-range.  I am of the belief that good quality eggs eaten in moderation are healthy for you.

When eating meat choose organic, grass-fed and wild game whenever possible. Other meat is filled with hormones, antibiotics and is very high in omega 6s which are proinflammatory.  Grass-fed meat has the natural balance of omega-3: omega-6 oils.  Fish is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids but again make smart choices. Avoid tuna, which is high in mercury, and also farmed salmon which is high in PCBs.  Rather, go for wild salmon, herring, cod, trout, sardines and halibut.

 

The extras

Even with the ideal diet, we are not always able to get enough nutrients from our foods, and sometimes a body needs a push to begin the journey back to health.  Therefore certain nutrients in supplementation form can be extremely helpful.

 

Omega-3 fatty acids: I recommend taking fish oils to get a healthy dose of omega-3 oils. Oils like flax-seed require extra nutrients and biochemical processes before the oils become available to the body as EPA and DHA, two of the most effective omega-3s. At least 1000mg of fish oils a day will go a long way in preventing heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s and increasing longevity.

‘- – -‘

I have begun to test almost all my patients’ vitamin D levels and have found that almost all are deficient and those with serious illnesses have extremely low levels.

‘- – -‘

Vitamin D: Vitamin D is another nutrient that is so essential to health yet many of us are deficient in it because we work and live indoors, use sun block and can’t get enough from our diet — even in fortified foods.  Vitamin D plays an essential role in cell and gene functioning.  Deficiency is linked to many cancers, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, depression, fibromyalgia, chronic muscle pain, bone loss and autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis.

It is essential to get tested and take supplementation if necessary. If possible, you should also spend about 20 minutes a day in the sun without sun block and with as much skin exposed as possible.  I have begun to test almost all my patients’ vitamin D levels and have found that almost all are deficient and those with serious illnesses have extremely low levels.  So many patients have reported that simple supplementation makes them feel much better and have noted that they even have fewer colds during the winter months.  It is especially important for cancer patients to be tested.

 

Super foods: Greens like wheatgrass and barley grass have many health benefits.  Spirulina especially is a power-packed super food.  It is a great source of protein and is filled with powerful phytonutrients and minerals.  Research has shown that it prevents cardiovascular disease, stroke, hypertension, cancer and diabetes; it protects the liver and decreases damage from toxins and it also improves the immune system and reduces allergies.  A simple 1 tablespoon a day can provide so much protection and so many health benefits.

I could spend days talking about protective nutrients but by following a healthy diet, and taking the above supplements on a daily basis, you can prevent and protect yourself against the diseases that affect so many lives like heart disease, cancer and Alzheimers.  Simple changes can improve your vitality and longevity. Remember —  eat real food — and then not too much, and mostly plants.

 

Patient stories

I have seen simple changes make a huge difference in people’s lives. Here are two stories to illustrate the point.

 

Jane’s story:

Jane was my receptionist in my practice in Cape Town and she saw for herself how my practice improved the health of so many of my patients.  Intrigued she asked me for some suggestions to improve her own health.  We decided on a simple diet plan: taking out the junk and the processed foods, increasing the fruit and vegetables, eating only whole-grains, good oils and good protein sources.  I also added in some fish oils and liver support, and encouraged her to start exercising again.

Within weeks she noticed amazing changes: her chronic acne was almost gone,  she was starting to shed the unwanted weight, she was eating less but also felt less hungry as the foods she was eating were more nutrient dense, and her energy and mood improved significantly.

The experiement ended up being a great advertisement for me as so many patients noticed the difference and asked her why she was looking so vital and well.

 

Jennifer’s story:

Jennifer is a lovely, elderly patient of mine.  She is also vegan.  When she came to me she had high blood pressure and fairly high cholesterol — high LDL, low HDL — and high triglycerides.  She may have been vegan but had lapsed into eating a mostly carbohydrate diet, low in essential nutrients and fatty acids.

We made simple dietary changes, lowering her carbohydrate intake, and increasing fruit and vegetables, and good sources of proteins and fats.  As she was vegan, we used chia seeds as a source of omega-3s, together with a powerful antioxidant co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and a natural blood pressure lowering supplement high in bioflavonoids. It took a while to find the perfect combination but on this protocol, within a few weeks her blood pressure dropped and on retesting her lipid panel three months later, we found her triglycerides had dropped to the normal range and her cholesterol had dropped from 6.9 to 5.7 with her HDL increasing and her LDL decreasing.

This same patient had been recommended a life on statins and blood pressure medicines as a ‘cure’ by her cardiologist. We achieved a real cure within three months with a lifestyle change

 

About anti-oxidants help with heart health

Anti-oxidants benefit in the prevention and treatment of many diseases.

Coenzyme Q-10 (CoQ10), a powerful anti-oxidant, plays a unique role in energy production at the cellular level and is very important for the proper function of organs with high energy requirements such as the heart, liver and kidney. It also helps keep the fats in cell walls healthy which in turn protects from heart disease, angina, heart attacks, high blood pressure and cancer.

Flavenoids, also found in plants, are another powerful group of antioxidants. Crataegus oxyacantha (hawthorn) and Hibiscus sabdariffa (sour tea) have a long history of use in traditional botanical medicine in many parts of the world for their multiple health effects, but especially in relation to cardiovascular disorders. In the last 15–20 years, modern research has expanded and clarified those beneftis. Hawthorn research has focused on congestive heart failure, and sour tea research has focused on hypertension and dyslipidemia, with several clinical trials emerging in the last 3–4 years.

The active flavenoid in hawthorn leaves, berries, and blossoms is proanthocyanidin which has especially important cardiovascular effects.  The exact mechanisms is uncertain, but it is thought that the primary activity is its ability to increase coronary arterial blood flow, perhaps due to dilation of the coronary arteries.

Hawthorn has also been shown to exhibit antioxidant activity in a number of studies, which is probably due to its flavonoid and procyanidin constituents.  Hawthorn preparations are modestly effective in reducing blood pressure, preventing and treating atherosclerosis, lowering cholesterol, and preventing the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Hawthorn preparations may improve the blood supply to the heart by dilating the coronary arteries, increasing the force of contraction of the heart muscle, and regulate cardiac rhythm.  Hawthorn can be taken in capsule, liquid tincture or as a solid extract.

 

 

 

 

10 things you may not know about hypnotherapy

By Julian Willm,

1. fotolHypnosis is completely safe and it has been recognised by the American Medical Association since 1958, and it is also recognized by the British Medical Association. It has been safely used by many professionals in medicine and psychology for the past 200 years.
2. You do not lose awareness or fall asleep in hypnosis. You are therefore aware and conscious of everything at all times and hear everything the hypnotherapist says.
3. Hypnosis is a common daily occurrence. An example is when you’ve been driving in your car and when you arrive, you realise that you don’t really remember the trip. It’s safe to say that you were experiencing a trance state very much like hypnosis. Another example is is when you watch a movie find yourself crying. You have hypnotised yourself into a state that what you are being ‘told’ becomes real.
4. While under hypnosis, you do not surrender your will nor lose control. This myth has been perpetuated by novels, popular magazine stories, TV and movies. You always remain in control when hypnotised. Hypnosis does not weaken your will. The will of the hypnotherapist does not dominate yours, as you remain in control the whole time, and you cannot be made to do anything against your will.
5. You cannot get stuck in hypnosis. Since you are in control, you will have no difficulty in terminating the hypnotic state.
6. You cannot be hypnotised against your will. Hypnosis is not a clash of wills, but a condition of trust and cooperation with your hypnotherapist.
7. You will not reveal any secrets while in hypnosis. Since you are in control, you will not spontaneously begin talking, or reveal any intimate secrets that you would not tell while in the waking state.
8. Hypnosis is a powerful tool to manage pain. It can be used during surgery — under medical supervision — in place of anaesthestic, and it is also very effective in managing chronic pain.
9. Pre-surgery hypnosis can actually reduce pain, the amount of medication required, and also reduce recovery time!
10. Anybody can be hypnotised, as long as you are willing and you understand what is required.

Read more about hypnotherapy>>

 

Dr Jamieson has a huge interest in promoting preventative health, in particular, for women. In the 1980s Dr Jamieson was the first private doctor in Hong Kong to set up a well woman clinic. Later, in the 90s, she pioneered the use of bio-identical hormones in women in Hong Kong when other doctors were still prescribing synthetics.

The Perimenopause and Menopause relate to the time in a woman’s life when ovarian function is “winding down” – it is no longer necessary to produce eggs, ovarian follicles are depleted and so the production of progesterone and oestrogen (primarily a type called oestradiol) declines then ceases. It can be thought of as a reverse process to that of puberty, when the system is “winding up” and in both cases similar symptoms of hormonal flux occur, for instance irregular or problematic periods, or maybe a change in skin type such as developing acne.

Obviously total hormone production in the body is not stopped, so that the ‘interstitial’ tissues will continue to produce “Androgens” such testosterone. In body fat, muscle, and adrenal glands, these androgens are converted to small quantities of oestrogen, but this is a less potent form of oestrogen called oestrone. In addition, the amount produced varies tremendously between different women, explaining the variation of symptoms between women.

The classical menopausal symptoms are due to lack of oestrogen – this is hot flushes, sweats, tiredness, insomnia, depression, lack of concentration and therefore memory problems, vaginal dryness or infections, urinary problems and loss of libido.

Other less well-known side effects of “oestrogen deficiency” are changes in the skin and connective tissue. The amount of “collagen” – the structure supporting the skin – decreases, causing the skin to become thin and to increase the chances of bruising. Some ladies also complain of itch or “crawling” feelings and notice an increase in “spider veins”. Other tissues are similarly affected by collagen changes leading to dry hair, brittle nails, sore eyes or joint pains.

Another interesting change is an actual difference in body shape: premenopausal women have a “peripheral” distribution of fat in the breasts and bottom, where as later there is a more central distribution – around the abdomen. This is know as “android fat” and has been known for sometime to be a predictor of coronary heart disease.

The risk of coronary heart disease and stroke also escalates at this time of life because there are no longer the beneficial effects of oestrogen keeping the “bad” cholesterols down and the “good” up, as well as having an anti-oxidant property and generally improving circulation.  Of course the benefits of oestrogen therapy in preventing the inevitable osteoporatic changes are well known now.  Studies are also suggest that HRT has a protective effect against Alzheimer’s disease and colonic cancer.

Although some women may have excessive androgen when compared to oestrogen, doctors are beginning to realize that women can still become testosterone deficient.

Another unpleasant symptom of menopause is ‘hirsutism’, an excess of facial hair, and this is a result of the lowered ratio of oestrogen to androgen (male type hormone). Although some women may have excessive androgen when compared to oestrogen, doctors are beginning to realize that women can still become testosterone deficient. Women tend to product 50 percent less testosterone at the age of 50 as they did when aged 25. Endocrinologists are beginning to use testosterone cream on selected patients (I have to import this product) and reports so far are excellent, with doctors in Sydney finding it reduces osteoporosis, increases energy and improves memory. On top of this, testosterone gives everyone, women included, their sex drive.

For all of these reasons, hormone replacement therapy seems to be a fairly good idea.  Just as women differ in their own production of postmenopausal oestrogen and menopausal symptoms, they will differ in their requirement for type, method of administration and dosage of HRT

It has recently become clear that the oestrogen:progesterone ratio is important, and that in fact progesterone is the first hormone to become deficient in the “perimenopause”. Most doctors prescribe progesterone to balance out the tiny potential for an oestrogen imbalance to cause uterine cancer, and are aware of the fact that it is these progesterones that sometime cause side effects such as headaches, breast discomfort, mood swings, bloating and of course continuation of the menstrual cycle.

Until recently these unwanted side effects were the most common cause of women stopping HRT, however the newer “natural” bio-identical progesterones used in natural or bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT)  fortunately appear to cause none of these symptoms!

 

Until recently these unwanted side effects were the most common cause of women stopping HRT, however the newer “natural” bio-identical progesterones used in natural or bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT)  fortunately appear to cause none of these symptoms!  They have also proven to lower blood pressure in hypertensive ladies, and to maintain the “good” effects brought about by oestrogen in elevating “good” cholesterols, whereas the older, non bio-identical progesterones tended to reverse this beneficial effect.

Similarly the (less new) natural bio-identical oestrogens maintain the oestradiol:oestrone ratio in the body at more physiological, premenopausal levels.  In trials they have been found to be more effective in reducing menopausal symptoms, as well as being more effective at decreasing cholesterol than synthetic varieties.

I personally find these natural HRT medications are more “user friendly” with fewer patients wanting to change or stop.  I also find it worthwhile talking to patients about which method of administration they find suits them – daily pills, patches or gels rubbed in daily, or even an “implant” surgically inserted under the skin.  Also, herbs such as Black Cohosh and Donc Quai, as well as isoflavines are useful for some women.

Recently ‘ SERM’ drugs (Selective Estrogen Reception Modulators) have become available.  These are for women who are post menopausal and have not had periods for one year.  They work for osteoporosis and reduction of heart disease risk, but not for menopausal symptoms such as mood swings or flushes.  The advantage is that they have few side effects (eg. breast tenderness) and actually lead to REDUCED chance of breast cancer!

HRT is generally not something to be taken for a few months but more thought of as a natural replacement of hormones to levels equivalent to those in our “peak” years.  It is therefore worth taking time with a doctor who is knowledgeable about this and prepared to take time to find out what the individual patient needs.  It’s certainly a good thing that women have this choice in middle years, even though some (for excellent reasons) may not choose to take it.

3 Surprising Menopause Facts

1. A significant proportion of women start the hormone winding down process even before they reach 40.
2. Women’s hormones are produced in the ovaries and include oestrogen, progesterone and also testosterone!
3. In the 80s doctors started to take the menopause a little more seriously, prescribing a replacement hormone to relieve the symptoms called Prempak — created from the urine of pregnant horses.

By Dr Cherisse Yang

We spring clean our homes, our offices, our handbags (if you are a woman), so how about spring cleaning our bodies?

In an ideal world — a world were we eat natural nutritious food, drink fresh spring water, breathe clean air, experience little stress and do plenty of physical activities — the body is naturally self-healing and self-cleansing. Without conscious thought on how much stomach acid or enzyme to produce, or what nutrients to absorb, the body automatically digests and assimilates the nutritious foods and excretes waste and toxins that it cannot use.

Yet when we live in the city, especially one like Hong Kong, the naturally healing and cleansing ability of the body is often compromised and when the intake of toxins exceeds the body’s ability to excrete them, the excess is stored in our organs, muscles, fat and other tissues of the body.

Just as when we are overwhelmed with work and put the less urgent tasks in the “to do” pile for a time when we have time and energy to deal with those tasks, our body also ‘waits’ for a time when its workload is reduced so that it can excrete this stored excess from our bodies. However, we rarely give our bodies a break from stress, sugar, wheat, pollution, pesticides, preservatives, food colourings, alcohol, chlorine in the water, growth hormones in meat etc., and as a result, our body rarely gets the chance to get its “to dos” done.

There are many ways to let our body do its “to dos’, or detoxify. One of the most gentle, natural and effective methods is to keep a simple diet for a period of 10 to 28 days (or more) to minimise the chemical toxins ingested, and at the same time give the body sufficient high-quality nutrients to support the natural detoxification abilities of the body. During this period, regular exercise, using natural organic skin care products, drinking plenty of purified water and allowing plenty of rest also support the detoxification process.

Some benefits of doing a detox programme include increased energy, weight management, improved general health, improved skin condition and better digestion. If that is not enough to convince you to give your body a break, look at the list below and if you can check off four or more of the complaints, it’s most definitely time for a detox:

• fatigue
• poor concentration
• weight gain
• bad breath
• constipation
• frequent headaches
• recurrent colds
• recurrent joint pains
• skin issues
• infections
• heart-burn, or
• mood swings?

Please click at the link to read more about Dr Cherisse Yang’s Urban Health Farm Detox / Weight Loss Solution . To make an appointment, please call 2523 8044.

 

Improving sports performance need not all be hard slog. A visit to a Rolfer may be just the thing you need to take you to the next level.

If you love sport you know that to perform better, you must train harder but this may not always be so. Two amateur athletes recently found that a trip to a Rolfer, Steven Bremner, not only cured the aches and pains, but as patient Vanessa McClimans, says: “It gave me a new body.”

Vanessa, a marathon runner in her late forties, explains: “I was referred to Steven Bremner because of a persistent, deeply-placed nagging pain in my right shoulder. I originally went to see Dr Jamieson, expecting cortisone shots, but instead I was referred to Steven, one of the practitioners at the Holistic Central practice.

“Now, following the treatment I feel more fluid, lighter and released. Not only has the pain gone, but I saw my marathon speed shift  noticeably and I am looking forward to my next marathon to see how I perform there.”

Alexander van Praag is another sporty patient who got more than he expected when he went to see Steven to treat his long-term neck, knee and back pain. “In the gym I’ve noticed a very marked improvement in performance. It feels like I have been driving with my parking brake on for years, and now it’s released,” he says.

Rolfing may seem a strange name for anything, but it is named for Dr Ida Rolf who, more than 50 years ago, discovered that she could achieve remarkable changes in posture and structure by manipulating the body’s myofascial system, the system of connective tissue that surrounds and supports our muscles, tendons, bones, organs etc. in an intricate 3-dimensional network. Dr Rolf called her system of treatment Structural Integration.

Rolfing, or Structural Integration, has a very different way to address the body and its various symptoms and imbalances. “People usually consider bones as the means of support for our bodies, but from a Rolfer’s perspective, it is the fascial system that decides the alignment and function of the body as a whole,” explains Bremner.

Steven says: “When we get the body in alignment and in a good relationship to the gravitational field, the body begins to work its magic; it begins to heal on many levels, pain begins to disappear, and all the benefits of a well ‘Rolfed’ body come to fruition!”

The treatment has been compared to peeling off a tight wetsuit to find yourself suddenly able to move freely again.

“In the gym I’ve noticed a very marked improvement in
performance. It feels like I have been driving with my
parking brake on for years, and now it’s released…”

Rolfing typically runs for 10 sessions and generally no two sessions are the same as it is a progression of treatment. “In the first few sessions I work on the outer most layers of the myofascial system,” says Steven. “On the fourth session I might start working deeper towards the intrinsic or core muscles. It’s all about balancing in a 3-dimensional setting. Breathwork is another major component of the Rolfing experience and without this ‘all is for naught’. Focus on breath-work is instilled from the first session and progresses more deeply as the work unfolds through the series.”

Van Praag describes his treatment: “The work felt like an ‘education for the body’ where the body learned and adapted to new ways of movement and alignment. Each session seemed more like a lesson, which was delivered both through Steve’s hands, elbows — and even feet — directly to the tissue of the body, and also through movements that he taught me to take home to use.

“What I particularly appreciated was that Steve approaches the body as a whole, and is able to address the root cause of the problem, not just the local site of the discomfort.”

Steven explains saying: “We are educators more than anything. We help clients become more aware of how they use their body, and provide them more options for greater freedom of movement and living. Secondly we don’t treat symptoms; rather, we seek out root causes and root patterns that have brought a body to its current state of discomfort.”

“I use all the principles of Rolfing and even now at 45, I’m like a well-oiled machine! Efficient, energetic, centered in my structure and very flexible…”

Vanessa had a similar experience to Alexander. Although she had originally gone in for shoulder pain — which Steven cured — in the course of the treatment Steven also diagnosed and treated a plantar fasciitis-like area of pain on her foot. “It was not debilitating so I hadn’t mentioned it,” she says. But now that too has gone.

Steven himself has benefited from his own knowledge. In his first career, Steven was a professional ballet dancer and he is proud to say that thanks to Rolfing, he still dances and dances well. “I use all the principles of Rolfing and even now at 45, I’m like a well-oiled machine! Efficient, energetic, centered in my structure and very flexible,” he says.

While Rolfing is a novelty in Hong Kong, Rolfing is more widely appreciated in the North America and Europe where Steven comes from. So much so that the tough guys from The Minnesota Vikings recently attributed their improved performance and decrease in injuries to Rolfing. Steven agrees: “Everyone needs to be Rolfed — from the elderly to kids, from business people to athletes. I have never met anyone whose body didn’t need some Rolfing.”

To book a session with Steven Bremner at Dr Susan Jamieson & Holistic Central Medical Practice, please call 2523 8044.

 

 

Heart disease is a big killer but only because we let it be. Awareness of the risks, a change in diet and lifestyle and appropriate screening can have you living out a long life — in good health. Dr Jamieson explains more.

Here in Hong Kong heart disease is the second most common cause of death, however it is increasing in prevalence. In the US heart disease is the most common killer, with Americans suffer a ‘coronary event’ every 25 seconds, one dying per minute. It’s a hot topic, with over a million Americans having a coronary yearly, and an additional 195,00 suffering from ‘silent’ ones — without pain or symptoms — but leading to weakening of the heart.  In the past heart disease has been more common in men, however now women are rapidly catching up.

Preventing this common disease has become one of the ways that modern medicine can increase life expectancy. If we add strokes in to the pot, we find that as many as one third of Americans are dying of cardiovascular disease (heart attacks and strokes).

As a doctor it’s my job to screen everyone, even those coming with a sore throat, as if caught early, risk factors can be controlled or eliminated. Also, education is everything, and even in these days of Internet access, patients still don’t realize what they are doing to their bodies by bad eating habits.

How does ‘heart disease’ kill you?
So, how do we actually die of heart disease? Coronary heart disease and the subsequent heart attack is caused by ‘furring up’ of the blood vessels supplying the heart, so that the heart muscle becomes starved of oxygen—a vital nutrient. This often happens on exercising, as the heart’s blood requirement is more at that time. Lack of blood supply leads to the death of the heart muscle tissue downstream from the blockage, and hence the characteristic chest pain or discomfort. People also suffer an ‘arrhythmia’ where the electrical activity of the heart is disrupted, causing malfunction and blood not being pumped to the brain, which will quickly cause death.

The ‘furring up’ of the coronary arteries is like lime scale on a kettle and newer screening tests for heart disease, CT scans, measure calcium in these arteries and this is related to cholesterol deposits and blockages. Everyone has experienced the pain of aching tired muscles and this is not so different from the pain caused by this dying heart muscle. However this heart attack pain may vary in severity from a similar mild achiness, to a stabbing pain, or in a few cases, no pain at all.

Know your risk
The increase in Hong Kong’s heart disease over the years has been blamed by many sources on an increase in fatty, sugary western foods over traditional Chinese foods; smoking; and sedentary lifestyles amongst others. Looking at statistics and risk factors in other countries such as the UK is helpful in giving us insight into this:

• Two thirds of adults have borderline or high cholesterol,
• A third have high blood pressure (half untreated!),
• A third of men and women exceed the recommended alcohol allowance,
• One third of children are obese.

For some reason these risk factors appear to happen in ‘thirds’.

Other risk factors for heart disease are lack of exercise, diabetes, gout, thyroid disease, stress (this is scientifically proven) and family history  — the genes are the genes!.

The really good news about all of this is that 90% of these risk factors can be modified, and hence coronary disease and also strokes prevented.

Screening starts at…

Men should start check ups at 40, women later at 50, as before menopause their hormones protect them against heart disease. Patients can see their GPs for yearly checks of risk factors such as blood pressure and cholesterol as well as an assessment and advice on exercise, diet and stress. Screening tests such as exercise ECGs and calcium CT of coronary arteries can then be ordered if appropriate.