A stitch in time saves nine!

Hi everyone

A stitch in time saves nine! The old saying which has been demonstrated to me very clearly this week. I had seen the hole developing in my cardigan and I thought to myself I will just pop a couple of stitches in there and it will be fine. This was several weeks ago by the way! Well, I didn't get my sewing box out and of course the hole just got larger and larger and now it's too big to mend with a couple of stitches, it needs a lot more than that and I don't think I am going to be able to fix it without it looking a mess.

The same happens with our bodies, we  become out of balance and we either don't realise because we have forgotten to listen to the messages our body sends or we ignore the message altogether. Of course things do sort themselves out but if we need to pay attention to what's going on then our body will send us bigger and bigger messages until we take notice and take action.

I could have fixed my cardigan without too much trouble when I first noticed the small hole and it would have been fine. Now I think it will have to be consigned to the 'old clothes' pile. Let's not make the same mistake with our bodies. Lets remember how to listen to what our bodies are telling us and respond with a 'stitch in time'.

Wishing you all a happy week


Bye for now
Brenda x

Your access to homeopathic medicines is under threat

Hi everyone

This week I would like to draw your attention to the following information that I received this week from the Chairperson of Homeopathy Action Trust. It is of concern to practitioners and patients alike. Please have a look at the information and take action by writing to you MP. Many thanks.

Your access to homeopathic medicines is under threat

Why?

The Medicines Act is being simplified, which is a good thing because much duplication is being removed. However, as a result there are some key elements which could adversely affect your access to homeopathic medicines if the proposals go into force.

What will happen to my access to homeopathic medicines?

If the current proposals by the MHRA are endorsed by government the following would occur:

·You would no longer able to get homeopathic medicines by phone or online

To get any unlicensed homeopathic medicine a face-to-face consultation would be required at a registered pharmacy.  Unlicensed medicines number in the thousands and make up the majority of homeopathic prescriptions, while there are only 50 licenced homeopathic medicines.  This will also mean you cannot legally buy unlicensed homeopathic medicines online or over the phone as you currently do.

·Homeopaths would not be able to dispense or prescribe medicines to you

Homeopathic practitioners would not be able to dispense unlicensed homeopathic medicines to their patients. This arises because homeopaths are not recognised by this law as being supplementary prescribers and it will be illegal for homeopathic pharmacies to supply them with the essential (unlicensed) medicines required for their patients

·You would have to get your homeopathic medicines personally at a handful of licenced homeopathic pharmacies in Britain

Hundreds of thousands of people who currently have prescriptions filled for unlicensed homeopathic medicines will be unable to obtain their urgent medicines.  The estimated 6 million users of homeopathy in Britain cannot be expected to be supplied medicines face-to-face by less than five licenced premises.

What you can do to stop this from happening!

Write to your MP and tell him or her - especially if your MP sits on the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments or is involved with Health.

We are not asking to move mountains. All that needs to be done is a small change to paragraph 195 of the proposed new Medicines Act to allow greater freedom to dispense remedies to practitioners and could also overcome the face-to-face issue which is unworkable.

On the next page you will find a few helpful bullets and links to assist you in contacting your MP on this issue.

The new Medicines Act will be put before the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments for approval in late May/early June for implementation in July, so your swift action is critical!

Write to your MP: Medicines Act consolidation 2012

You can identify the name of your MP by using website:http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/

Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments:

David Maclean MP (Chairman), Penrith and The Border, Conservative

Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods MP, City of Durham, Labour

Mr Peter Bone MP, Wellingborough, Conservative

Nigel Dodds MP, Belfast North, Democratic Unionist

Jeff Ennis MP, Barnsley East and Mexborough, Labour

Judy Mallaber MP, Amber Valley, Labour

Chris Ruane, Vale of Clwyd, Labour

Lord Campbell of Alloway, Conservative

Lord Clinton Davis, Labour

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, Labour

Lord Kimball, Conservative

Countess of Mar, Cross Bench

Earl of Mar and Kellie, Liberal Democrats

Lord Walpole, Cross Bench

A few helpful points that could be used in your letter:

It is not necessary or recommended to include all the text suggested here.  It is critical that you personalise your letter with your own views and experiences. Overall, try to keep the letter short (a page or less), and emphasise any points that are relevant to the particular MP.

I’m deeply concerned a draft proposal set out by the MHRA as part of its consolidation and review of the Medicines Act 1968 could have a significant impact on my ability as a patient to access homeopathic medicines in the UK.

• In its current form section 10 of the proposal would only allow unlicensed homeopathic medicines to be bought directly from a pharmacist face-to-face, in effect outlawing the purchase of these medicines over the telephone or via online ordering. This would mean I would be deprived of the medicines that I have found to be so beneficial to my health.
• There are only five homeopathic pharmacies in the UK, so most homeopathic medicines are ordered from these specialist pharmacies either by phone or via the Internet. Therefore the enforcement of section 10 in its current form will have serious consequences for the six million people in the UK who choose to use this form of complementary medicine.
• If not revised the proposal would also have serious consequences for more than 2,000 homeopathic practitioners, many of whom would find it impossible to treat patients like myself because they can no longer obtain the appropriate homeopathic  medicine. 
• I understand that a central plank of government health policy is to increase patient choice. Section 10 will eliminate choice for people like me who want to be treated with homeopathy.
• I would like to call on your support in getting the Health Minister to revise slightly the proposed language of the revised Medicines Act to ensure that I have continued access to a full range of homeopathic medicines and my right to choose homeopathic treatment is maintained. 

Wishing you all a happy week

Bye for now

Brenda x

Have you spared the time to smell the flowers lately?

Have you spared the time to smell the flowers lately?

Yesterday I spent the day on the edge of Dartmoor, it was beautiful. I saw carpets of bluebells, an abundance of primroses and gorgeous patches of violets. The gorse was also in flower and smelt of honey and coconut. Being out in the open was lovely and a joy for me, nurturi ng. Which brings me to another question, how are you getting on with looking after yourself?

I know that time can be the biggest problem when it comes to self care. There just isn't any time left to look after ourselves. However, if we make the time it can be so beneficial. Everything seems so much easier and things seem to get done more quickly which means we do have more time in the long run. Making self care a regular feature of our lives is so important, I am going to be more mindful for myself, lets do it together!

Wishing you all a happy week


Bye for now
Brenda x

Time to "declutter"...

Hi everyone

         

It is a perceived wisdom that clutter inhibits the free flow of energy and creativity.

Therefore every week I put 'decluttering' in my plan for the week and often  Wednesday arrives and there is it in my daily plan waiting for me to do some.

Now depending on how energetic I feel the decluttering I do can be anything from clearing the pile of post on the kitchen worktop to a clean sweep of all the things that have acculmulated on almost any available surface! Isn't it interesting that once one item is left on a table it doesn't take long for other items to arrive and there it is clutter!

The most satisfying decluttering is the kind that involves removing things from the house, either to recycling, charity shops, friends or the dust bin. A proper 'turn out'. I feel very good when I have achieved this. Trying to follow the principle of one thing in, one thing out helps but I still have much to work on with decluttering I think.

         
Wishing you all a happy week


Bye for now
Brenda x

The meaning of "me time"

Hi everyone

While I was at the hairdressers today I was reading a magazine called Natural Health which was a title I hadn't seen before and proved to be very absorbing. Several articles caught my eye but a quote I noticed was the thing I wanted to share with you all. 'We haven't understood the full meaning of compassion until we learn to be compassionate to ourselves' (can't remember who said it or if I have quoted it correctly but the meaning is there!)

Often in consultations I ask people where they are on their list of all the things and people that they look after. People often reply that they are at the bottom or near the bottom of their list. This suggests that they are taking care of everything else but are not very good at looking after themselves. We perhaps feel it is selfish to take time for ourselves, but it is important for our health to nuture and show ourselves compassion, to put ourselves a little nearer the top of the list.

Hoping you all find some 'me time' this week.

Wishing you all a happy week


Bye for now
Brenda x

Homeopathy Action Trust

Hi everyone

 

This week I have been looking at some short youtube videos prepared by the School of Homeopathy and the Homeopathy Action Trust. The talks are designed to give homeopathy 'a voice' and I think the homeopaths talking in the videos achieve just that.

Have a look for yourselves and see what you think. I would be very interested to hear your comments.

This is the link: www.youtube.com/user/SchoolofHomeopathy

Wishing you all a happy week

Bye for now
Brenda x

Easter

Hi everyone

As our thoughts turn to Easter and we think of eggs, bunnies, chicks and lambs, primroses and catkins, the coming of Spring, last minute preparations for visitors, it is all too easy to forget what we are really celebrating. It seems to be the way these days, our festivals are submerged beneath the weight of consumerism.

The essence of Easter is I think about birth and rebirth, death to the old and being rasied from the ashes to a new and better future. The cycle of life, hope.

 I feel very priviledged, as a homeopath, to have been able to help people find a better balance in their lives, a healthier and better way of being, a kind of rebirth I guess. I hope that you find whatever it is you need this Easter with the space and time to regroup and the odd chocolate egg as well!

Wishing you a Happy Easter time.

Bye for now
Brenda x