LIFE UNDER THE STAIRS
By Local Resident, Jane Stevenson
TAKING OURSELVES TO TASK Happy Easter to you. Now more than ever we are encouraged to look after ourselves. Whether it is through diet, exercise, wellbeing strategies or restful sleep, there are myriads of online and media ads offering ideas.
According to experts (who ARE these faceless people?), we should get enough of our daily vitamins and minerals requirements in our food - if we eat a well-balanced diet. That alone raises some questions, given the number of takeaways delivered to Stevenson Towers recently. Quick and easy, a treat for being lockdown, but not sure if they really qualify as well balanced. To be fair, I usually cook from scratch and use fresh veggies, fruit, and wholewheat products. So why do I still purchase supplements, or invest time and study into an alternative health system, given the lack of hard evidence of their veracity?
My personal reasons are because they work for me. A general multivitamin backed up with Evening Primrose Oil and an Omega 3 fish oil forms my daily intake. While I can’t prove how I benefit, I’ve noticed a subtle change in my day-to-day life when I have stopped taking them. From feeling energetic and positive I begin to find things just a little bit harder, The use of herbs and plants as a any benefit to us. More worryingly from climbing the stairs or winding source of wellbeing, has grown are some of the claims currently on down for sleep, to experiencing the over the years, coupled with the social media. dreaded writer’s block. purchase of vitamins and minerals to aid our health. The increase in Recently the suggestion that high There is a rich history behind interest in yoga, Pilates, meditation, doses of vitamin D (the sunshine much of these remedies. Before and wellness has touched all groups vitamin) could help lessen the the introduction of the many life of the community. symptoms of Covid 19 did the enhancing, life saving drugs we rounds. However, such an idea has use every day, our ancestors relied The jury is out on the use of no evidence to back the claim and is on the land to provide much of supplements, yet we are obsessed at best misleading if not dangerous. the healing. Aloe Vera for cuts and with buying these products. Many abrasions, feverfew for headaches lay claim to successful results, It is the same with complementary and turmeric for joint pain were all which is often reflected in the therapies. There is a healthy used by cultures around the world costs. I understand that such scepticism surrounding the effects including Native Americans and the products should conform to the of them. Many are regarded as the Romans. Many of these are still in use Food Standard Agency level so province of old hippies. How do today. Even aspirin is derived from I would question the difference you convince someone that using willow bark, and its use is recorded between a named brand or a chain lavender oil helps you sleep, or a as far back as 400BC. store range, apart from the price. Bush Flower Essence can alleviate There is little in the way of scientific demotivation? How does Tiger Balm There is a similar argument for Yoga, evidence that supplements offer work for aches and pains? Pilates, Meditation, and other more
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