Feelgood 16-04-2010

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Feelgood Friday, April 16, 2010

Winning ways

Get what you want at work and at home by being persistently pleasant: 8,9

PICTURE THAT

Why cystic ďŹ brosis sufferers have every reason to smile: 4,5

TAPPING THERAPY

Hollyoaks star Nicole Barber-Lane overcomes her dentist phobia: 6

EYE CATCHING

Bare essentials of new nude look: 14

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Scientists belive near death experience is a trick of the mind but author Colm Keane isn’t convinced, says Arlene Harris Kate O’Reilly WHAT’S ON HAPPY FACES: From April 20 to 23, Gerard Fay will undertake a challenge of walking and running from Drogheda to Kilkenny in aid of Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland (CFAI), finishing at its national conference on April 23. To find out more, contact Gerard on 087-2398881 or visit www.mycharity.ie/event/gerard_fays_event. For further info cystic fibrosis, visit www.cfireland.ie. (See also page 4 and 5).

SOCCER CLASSIC: Boxer Bernard Dunne and broadcaster Jimmy Magee host a celebrity soccer classic to help raise funds for Caring and Sharing Association (CASA) and the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA).

Players include Paul McGrath, Packie Bonner, Katie Taylor and Ronnie Whelan. Tickets for the event in Tallaght Stadium on Saturday May 8 at 2.30pm are F5 each or F12 for a family of four.

Available from the CASA office at 01-8725300 or www.imnda.ie.

SPONSORED WALK: There will be a sponsored walk between Glengarriff and Castletownbere on Saturday April 24 in aid of the Chemotherapy Department CUH, and St Josephs Palliative Care Unit Castletownbere. Anyone interested in participating can contact Sandra on 086-1065920.

WALK 4 AWARE: Aware, the organisation providing information and support to those affected by depression are looking for volunteers to “Walk 4 Aware” on Sunday May 9. If anyone would like to organise a sponsored walk in their area and be part of this nationwide fundraising event, Aware will provide sponsorship cards and other promotional materials etc. For further details contact the Aware office in Dublin at 01-6617211 or visit www.aware.ie.

SLEEP LECTURE: The St John of God Hospital’s ‘Minding the Mind 2010’ public lecture series is free to attend and open to the public, and will focus on topical issues that people are facing due to the recession such as stress, lack of sleep, depression, concerns about retirement. etc. In this week’s lecture, on Monday, April 19 at 8pm, Dr Simon Mitchell will give a talk on the role of sleep in physical and mental health.

View the full schedule of lectures at www.sjoghosp.ie or contact the hospital on 01-2771400.

HEART CLINIC: The Irish Heart Foundation will hold a free blood pressure and cholesterol testing clinic at the Family Resource Centre, Farranree on Wednesday April 21 from 2.30pm to 4pm. For details call 021-4505822 or if you have questions about stroke or heart disease you can contact their Helpline 1890-432787.

■ Items for inclusion in this column can be sent to koreilly8@gmail.com

What comes next?

A

LONG tunnel, a bright light and an overwhelming sense of peace — these are some of the well-documented characteristics of a near death experience (NDE). No one knows what would have come next if the patient hadn’t returned to this life, but the message from those who have been through an NDE seems to be the same — there is life after death.

Scientists have been trying to explain the phenomenon for years but researchers at the University of Maribor in Slovenia believe that it is nothing more than a trick of the mind.

Dr Zalika Klemenc-Ketis who led the study of 52 people who had suffered a potentially fatal cardiac arrest found that patients with a high level of carbon dioxide in their blood were more likely to have an NDE than those with normal levels.

Speaking to the journal, Critical Care, she said: “We found that in those patients who experienced the phenomenon, blood carbon dioxide levels were significantly higher than in those who did not.

“Some earlier studies also showed that inhaled carbon dioxide, used as a psychotherapeutic agent, could cause near death-like experiences.”

The report claimed that increased levels of CO2 can “provoke unusual experiences in the form of bright lights, visions and even out-of-body mystical experiences”.

But RTÉ radio producer and author,

OTHER SIDE: Colm Keane is convinced that life after death does exist.

Colm Keane says that these findings are not conclusive and believes that there is not enough evidence to support the claims.

While researching his best-selling book

Going Home, Keane spoke with many Irish people who have had an NDE and, despite approaching the subject with a sense of scepticism, he now maintains that there seems to be a strong link between what his interviewees experienced and what actually happens to us all after death.

“I talked to hundreds of people about their NDEs and the pattern was always similar,” he says. “Bright lights, a sense of calm and a feeling of not being alone was something they all remembered.”

With his second book on the subject due to be published this autumn, Keane is convinced that life after death does exist and is proven by the similarity between NDE stories.

“Efforts have been made for years to explain and even rubbish NDEs,” he says.

“But while everything has been examined, there is no concrete evidence to date.

“I have researched the subject and talked to hundreds of people who have experienced this and I am certain that this is something we will all face at the time of death. It has proven to me that something continues after death. But whether it is the survival of consciousness or of the soul or a combination of both is something none of us will discover until we experience it ourselves.”

■ Colm Keane’s latest book The Distant Shore will be published in October 2010.

HEALTH NOTES four people are thought to have it without knowing it. The survey of more than 2,000 people was carried out for the British Stroke Association to highlight the need for regular blood pressure checks.

WALKERS and TV3 are looking for families who have responded to the recession over the past 12 months with a fighting spirt. And there’s a tasty F20,000 for the winning family.

If you think your family is deserving or know a family who fits the bill, then tune into TV3 and Ireland AM next Monday for details. The final three families will be shortlisted by the judging panel and the winning family chosen by TV3 viewers.

Log on to www.tv3.ie for further information. The Walkers Family of the Year promotion runs until Thursday, April 29.

Coronation Street star William Roache (Ken Barlow), revealed this week that he is 50% deaf in both ears. Refusing to wear hearing aids for many years, he suffered from social isolation and difficulties at work, as a result.

The Coronation Street actor said that vanity had stopped him from wearing a hearing device until now.

Hearing difficulties affect almost one in six people in Ireland and untreated hearing loss is a common occurrence with people.

According to Hidden Hearing audiologist Keith Ross: “Only 20% of people who could benefit from a hearing device actually wear one. Often people delay seeking treatment because of concern for their appearance, not realising that hearing devices are now very discreet, thanks to technology advances.”

FAMILY SEARCH: Celebrity stylist Lisa Fitzpatrick with brother and sister Eoin and Lara Murtagh help launch the search to find the Walkers Family of the Year with TV3.

Picture:Chris Bellew

Bad manners and reality TV shows regularly make people’s blood boil, a recent poll has found. Almost eight out of 10 said poor manners and rudeness makes them angry while six in ten also put poor driving on the list of annoying habits.

Reality TV shows (31%), queue jumping (66%) and speaking too loudly on a mobile phone (40%) were also rated as blood boilers.

High blood pressure is the biggest risk factor for having a stroke, yet around one in

A Mediterranean diet has long been promoted by nutritionists as a healthy way to eat. Now researchers suggest the “sunshine” diet could cut also our risk of developing dementia.

Dr Yian Gu from Columbia University Medical Centre in the US studied the diets of more than 2,000 old age pensioners in New York. When his researchers analysed their food intake, they found that those with diets high raw salads, nuts, fish, poultry, fruits and green leafy vegetables, but low in high-fat dairy, red meat and butter, were less likely to develop dementia.

However, it’s important to combine these foods to maximise the nutrients, the researchers point out.

Diets rich in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, vitamin E and folate but low in saturated fat and vitamin B12 seem to offer the greatest protection.

While no one diet or lifestyle change can stop dementia in its tracks, the research offers hope to those who are looking to reduce their risk of developing the life-crippling disease, which affect 35 million people worldwide.

Irene Feighan

feelgood@examiner.ie EDITORIAL: Irene Feighan 021-4802292 ADVERTISING: Niamh Kelly 021-4802215

Feelgood

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THE SHAPE I'M IN

Lisa Murphy

Wedding belle SOCIALITE, businesswoman and former girlfriend of Michael Flatley, Lisa Murphy is busy with preparations for her upcoming wedding to solicitor Gerald Kean.

The 37-year-old Ranelagh-born model and beauty salon owner says the couple plan to marry either late this year or next spring.

“We want to get renovating the house out of the way first,” says Lisa. “We’ve decided to have the wedding in Cork. Gerald’s from Cork and we’ve always had great times there. Gerald originally thought we’d go away to get married, that it would be more romantic, but I felt if we held it abroad I wouldn’t be as involved and I wanted to be involved.”

Lisa says her husband-to-be has already “put in his order” for kids. “He wants four girls. I said I don’t know about four — maybe two.”

A PERSONALISED IRISH EXAMINER FRONT PAGE

Gerald has already “put in his order” for kids. “He wants four girls. I said I don’t know about four — maybe two”

What shape are you in?

I exercise three or four times a week. I go on the treadmill. I haven’t got into weights yet but I might take up Pilates. I do sit-ups in case I need to model a bikini.

Do you have any health concerns?

My mum had breast cancer 20 years ago. She’s doing very well but I get checked for it all the time. I had a food intolerance test done a few years ago. I found I was intolerant to wheat, which I wasn’t eating anyway, and to yeast, so I’ve since given up wine and changed to spirits.

What are your healthiest eating habits?

Since January, I’ve been taking cider vinegar in the morning and I also drink hot water and lemon. For breakfast, I have porridge or rye bread but I try not to have too many carbs after lunch. Lunch is salad with chicken or tuna. I snack on fruit. Dinner is fish with vegetables and if I’m still hungry I’ll have cheese with fruit.

What’s your guiltiest pleasure?

I was terribly addicted to chocolate but I gave it up two years ago. I love Doritos — if I open a bag, they’re gone.

I wouldn’t have them too often. I also love banoffi pie, but again not too often.

What would keep you awake at night?

If I’m at home I can’t sleep ‘til everybody’s in. It comes from when we got a phone call in 1995 to say my brother, Paul, had been in an accident — he later died.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

My brother, Paul.

How do you relax?

I don’t get much time to chill out but I love tennis, a nice walk or watching a movie.

A UNIQUE GIFT

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way they’d like to be treated.

What trait do you least like in yourself?

I wish I wasn’t so soft. I’d like to be more of a fighter.

I’m not good at saying ‘no’.

Do you pray?

I do, every night — it’s very important to me.

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What would cheer up your day?

Seeing people smiling and happy when they come into the salon. Positivity in others cheers me up too.

Helen O’Callaghan

FIGHTING FIT: Lisa Murphy exercises three or four times a week, tries not to eat too many carbs and keeps her snacking habits in check.

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FEELGOOD

Picture:Nick Bradshaw/ fotonic

When did you last cry?

A week ago while watching a programme about underprivileged children.

What’s your favourite smell?

The smell of my little niece, Sophia. I love a baby smell.

THE FEELGOOD PERSONALS

What would you change about your appearance?

I’d like sallow skin so I wouldn’t have to tan.

Name the best book you’ve read recently?

Awaken The Giant Within by Anthony Robbins — it’s my favourite motivational book. Right now, I’m reading Marian Keyes’ The Brightest Star In The Sky.

FOR COST EFFECTIVE ADVERTISING Phone: LORI FRASER Tel. 021-4802265 Fax 021-4273846 lori.fraser@examiner.ie Every Friday.

What trait do you least like in others?

Disrespect — people should treat others the

Feelgood

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2010

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The IPPA’s photo campaign will raise F100,000 for cystic fibrosis sufferers, writes Deirdre Reynolds

Jordan still feels normal

I

T’S Ireland’s most common inherited disease — but even though every 19th person here carries the deadly cystic fibrosis gene, treatment facilities aren’t quite so commonplace.

Ireland’s cystic fibrosis sufferers have the most severe strain of the illness — which attacks the lungs and digestive system and cuts life expectancy — known to the developed world. Yet our medical care to tackle the systemic illness is also the worst in Europe, according to a report by the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland.

Now though CF patients have been given something to smile about after the Irish Professional Photographers Association has pledged to raise F100,000 for urgent isolation facilities, which help prevent life-threatening infection.

Launched by Late Late Show host Ryan Tubridy, pictured above, the IPPA Happy Faces 2010 campaign in conjunction with Canon gives wannabe Heidi Klums — or anyone else for that matter — the chance to strike a pose for a professional portrait for a recession-busting F25. Twelve big-hearted posers will also make it onto a CFAI fund-raising calendar for 2011, available later in the year.

Meanwhile, the CFAI national conference: Meeting the Challenges of Managing Cystic Fibrosis in Ireland takes place in Kilkenny next weekend, flagging the start of the first CF Awareness Week.

Here, we meet some of the Happy Faces who prove that cystic fibrosis needn’t be a death sentence.

PATIENT LIFE: Luke Murtagh has been in and out of hospital all his life.

Picture:Margaret Moore, LIPPA, Photogenic Photographers Ltd.

Feelgood

THIRD-CLASS pupil Jordan Kidd reckons living with CF is “just normal”. But the happy-go-lucky lad’s daily battle with the disease motivated 400 family, friends and neighbours in Co Wicklow to raise a staggering F21,000 for the cause with a 10km marathon last year — and they’re set to lace up in his honour again this September.

“My parents found out I have CF when I was a year-and-a-half old,” says the eight-year-old. “Even though I have CF, I feel okay. Sometimes my chest hurts — if I move suddenly — but I still play on the trampoline and run around the house. We have an obstacle course in the garden which I do every day for half an hour.

“I’m able to keep up with my friends at school, but if I feel tired, I just stop. I have to take medicine and do physio but I don’t mind — my mum and dad and three big sisters help me with my routine. I support Manchester United and when I grow up I want to be a football player like Wayne Rooney. ” I don’t think CF will stop me from becoming a football player. If it does though, I want to become a policeman so I can put people in jail!”

DEFEATING ODDS: Caroline Heffernan says reaching 40 this year is a huge milestone. Picture:Joe McHugh, LIPPA, McHugh Photography

Death doesn’t scare me WHEN mum-of-two Caroline Heffernan from Tuam, Galway, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at 13, doctors predicted she wouldn’t see 20. Now on the brink of 40, the CFAI advocate continues to defy the odds and says the life-shortening illness has inspired her to live it to the limit.

“As a teenager, I was oblivious to how serious CF was. Initially, I was misdiagnosed with TB, so in some ways the diagnosis of CF was easier to handle — at least people didn’t treat me like a leper.

“The reality of CF only hit home when other teenagers I knew passed away from it. I’m one of the lucky ones because the form I have is less severe.

“Reaching 40 this year is a huge milestone for me — but, put it this way, I don’t see myself paying into a pension fund.

Death isn’t something that scares me. Often I think it’s harder for the families. My children, aged eight and 11, have asked me if you die from CF — and I’m pretty honest with them. They don’t like it when I have to

go into hospital, but they’re used to it. As a mum, I’d prefer to be on six months of I/V than see either of my kids with a runny nose.

“I’m a firm believer that I wouldn’t have travelled or done as much as I have if I didn’t have CF. It makes you more determined to live a fuller life. I even ran the New York marathon a couple of years ago. I have the medal hanging in my kitchen, so if I’m ever having a bad day all I have to do is look at it.”

Some days I feel like an old person with all the DUBLINER Luke Murtagh, 22, has been in and out of hospital his whole life because of CF — culminating in a life-saving liver transplant last year.

Now inspirational Luke, who featured on TV3’s The Gift of Life series, says everyone should carry an organ donor card to give others a shot at survival too.

“Growing up I didn’t really notice I was

different to other kids. Antibiotics, I/Vs and hospitals are just normal to me. When I was younger, I’d get up and run out to play with my friends.

“But as you get older it gets tougher.

Some days I feel like an old person with all the tablets I have to take.

“I have liver disease due to the cystic fibrosis, but last summer, when I was in hos-

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pital for a routine scan, I discovered I had cancer of the liver too. It was a devastating blow — but I just had to get on with it as I’ve always done. You have to stay positive.

“I went on the waiting list for a transplant and got called after two weeks. I was nervous on the day of the operation, but once I was lying on the table I just blocked it all out.

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■ For further information on IPPA Happy Faces 2010 in aid of CFAI and a list of participating photographers, see www.irishphotographers.com

KIDDS ALRIGHT: Annmarie Kidd with her son Jordan who has CF, enjoying the outdoors by Blessington Lake. Picture: Laura

CF: what you need to know C

YSTIC fibrosis (CF) is Ireland’s most common life-threatening genetically inherited disease. It affects the glands, damaging many organs including the lungs, the pancreas, the digestive tract and the reproductive system. A build up of mucus can make it difficult to clear bacteria and leads to cycles of lung infections and inflammation, which can eventually lead to damage of the lungs.

CF can also make it difficult to digest and absorb adequate nutrients from food. Mucus blocks the duct of the pancreas, preventing enzymes from reaching the intestines to digest food. As a result, persons with CF must include artificial enzymes in their diet. They must also follow a demanding daily routine of physical therapy to keep the lungs free of congestion and infection.

People with CF are prone to constant chest infections and malnutrition. However as therapeutic options have expanded over the last decade, significant advances have been achieved in life expectancy and quality of life.

The typical infant with CF has a repetitive cough, dry bulky offensive motions, and fails to thrive, but in some cases either respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms may occur.

The classic picture is an infant who fails to thrive, with frequent, pale, bulky, foul smelling and sometimes oily stools which are difficult to flush away. There is a poor growth pattern despite a normal or even a huge appetite.

Things to look out for in the first year to detect cystic fibrosis include: ■ Chronic or recurrent respiratory symptoms such as a cough or wheeze.

■ Recurrent or chronic pneumonia.

■ Failure to thrive.

■ Malformed, bulky, offensive stools with an oily appearance.

■ Chronic diarrhoea.

■ Rectal prolapse.

■ Prolonged jaundice.

■ Salty taste.

■ Dehydration in hot weather.

■ Family history of deaths in infancy, or living children with similar features.

From the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland.

Leonard, LIPPA, Small Photography Ltd.

tablets I take “I went on The Gift of Life to make people aware of the importance of carrying a donor card, not just for me, but for everyone who needs a transplant.

“I’ve had some complications since my transplant and may have to go back on the waiting list for another liver. Hopefully not, but my attitude all along has been: whatever will be, will be’.

Feelgood

Ireland’s cystic fibrosis sufferers have the most severe strain of the illness yet our medical care to tackle the systemic illness is also the worst in Europe FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2010

WARNING SIGNS: There are certain symptoms to look out for in your baby in the first year which indicate whether he or she has Cystic Fibrosis. Picture: iStock

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Kate Hodal profiles the controversial practice of Thought Field Therapy

Finger tapping good H

OLLYOAKS star Nicole Barber-Lane might be known for her tough-love mothering as Myra McQueen on the telly. But when it comes to her own health, she’s a softie, having had to seek help for her phobia of the dentist.

Her love of sweets means she’s visited the dentist nearly every year since childhood for treatment of cavities, root canals and implants, leaving with her an indelible fear of drills, needles and that odd smell that only the dentist’s office can provide.

But since trying phobia-busting therapy Thought Field Therapy (TFT) a few months ago, she’s been able to completely rein in her fears.

“Ever since I was little I’ve always hated the dentist, so much so that even the thought of going in would work me up — sometimes to the point of hysterical sobbing,” Barber-Lane explains.

“But it was only through TFT that all that changed around.”

Thought Field Therapy, or ‘tapping’, is a relatively new therapy, having been developed in the 1980s by American psychologist Roger Callahan.

It’s based on the premise that emotional trauma or pain is the product of imbalances in what Callahan terms “thought fields”, and that tapping on specific acupressure points on the body can help free the person from their pain.

The alternative therapy hasn’t been received well in all circles. Studies on the practice are few and far between, and Callahan’s claims that TFT could cure ills like post-traumatic stress disorder and depression in as little as 15 minutes have caused many, including the American Psychological Association, to question its scientific validity.

But some of those practicing it, like Barber-Lane, swear by its success.

“Every time I’d get any dental work done, I’d fear the needle pushing into my gums and the liquid flowing into my mouth.

“I’d be screaming, sobbing, pushing the dentist’s hands out of my mouth — to the point that they’d have to give me a general anaesthetic just to do a simple procedure, I was so scared.”

But after a few treatments of TFT, all that changed. Barber-Lane would “get into the thought field” by imagining herself in a dentist’s chair, about to have a treatment. While the images and fear coursed through her brain, she would start tapping on specific points to remove the “blockages” and get “positive energy flowing”.

“After just two TFT sessions, I walked calmly into the dentist’s office, breathed deeply and sat through the drilling with only a bit of anaesthetic cream on my gum.

“The nurses were amazed — they said I was a different person.”

ANCIENT SYSTEM: Like acupuncture, TFT accesses the energy meridians

Feelgood

help her lose weight and focus during a marathon in 2008.

Barber-Lane now uses TFT every day, to help her focus at work and disperse headaches at home. She treats her friends and children (Ben, 10, and Jemma, 20), has trained as a practitioner in it with her husband, actor Liam Fox), and has even used it on the Hollyoaks set.

“Once the whole set was negative and I got everyone tapping — even if no one believed in it. It definitely lightened the mood on set and got everyone laughing.”

HANDS ON: Hollyoaks actress Nicole Barber-Lane, top, says TFT techniques from Janet Thomson, above, cured her phobia of dentists.

Tapping requires no equipment, can be self-administered and has no side effects that supposedly course throughout the body.

Another alternative form of psychotherapy, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), also uses tapping to disperse energy blockages on the meridian, but requires the practitioner to repeat statements while doing so. Tapping, in its TFT form, requires no equipment, can be self-administered and has no side effects.

“Tapping is a completely non-invasive, risk-free technique that can, in most cases, reduce or eliminate negative emotion,” explains TFT practitioner Janet Thomson.

“The information that you store regarding your emotions — how your body knows to make you feel anxious or upset or traumatised after an event — is stored in your meridian system, which is a network like your circulation or lymphatic system.

“And if you tap specific points in a specific

sequence on those meridians, you can reduce or delete negative emotion completely.”

TFT can be considered a sort of emotional Morse code, as different emotions are related to different meridians. By tapping on them in a specific sequence, you tell your body to ‘unlock’ or ‘shift’ the emotions to the point of reduction or elimination.

“When you feel anxiety, for example a fear or phobia of something, you often feel sick to your stomach,” explains Thomson.

“The stomach meridian point is underneath your eye, so you tap under your eye to start releasing the emotion.”

TFT is said by practitioners to treat a whole number of health complaints, from depression and low self-esteem, to bereavement, fear of flying and public speaking, to weight loss. In fact, Barber-Lane first used TFT to

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UNLAYERING EMOTIONS: Tapping has been lauded as a perfect pill that can solve traumas in a matter of minutes, not least by Callahan himself. But the reality is that it can take a while for a patient to see full results.

“It can be like peeling an onion, as there might be lots of different emotions in one trauma,” says Thomson, also a registered clinical hypnotherapist and nutritionist, and life coach for ITV news.

“One client recently lost her mum, so I treated her for not just the death, but the bereavement, grief, anger and sadness too.

It’s very normal for you to get through one layer and for another to pop up.”

Clearing your “emotional superhighways” is paramount to leading a healthy life, says Thomson, as harbouring negative emotions can amplify bad feelings and prevent physical healing from taking place.

The practice is being used in war-torn Rwanda by the American Trauma Relief Committee to help heal physical and emotional traumas suffered by orphans and survivors of genocide.

“TFT won’t help heal a broken leg, but it will help reduce chronic or debilitating pain you may have had for years,” says Thomson.

As for Barber-Lane’s experience, Thomson is relieved that her phobia of the dentist has now gone, but she isn’t surprised.

“I hear two words a lot in my practice: ‘It’s gone’. Nicole was in a state when I first met her.

“It’s like having a secret weapon in your arsenal — you actually have the tools to get rid of any pain you might be going through.”

Barber-Lane agrees: “You don’t have to believe in it for it to work. I’ve watched some of my past emotional traumas just disappear and feel like a more confident and self-assured person because of it.”

TRY IT YOURSELF: The karate chop can help with motivation, energy levels, concentration, self-esteem and healing.

Tap yourself on the side of your hand with three fingers, at least 15 times, to keep yourself in ‘positive polarity’. Repeat a few times a day.

■ Tapping For Life: How To Eliminate Negative Thoughts And Emotions For Good, Janet Thomson, Hay House, F16.05.

■ See www.powertochange.me.uk

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Learning to talk with and not at others is one of the paths to the unconditional love we seek

Life truths ������ ��

Tony Humphreys

I

N LAST week’s column I wrote about five of the 10 personal truths that continue to influence my living.

The truths to be considered this week are:

■ 6. What another feels, thinks, says and does is 100% about him or her. Communication is about getting through to myself, not through to another.

People are frequently surprised by this truth. The current view on communication is that it is about getting through to the other person. However, I regard this as control and in attempting to convince the other you are using him or her as a substitute for yourself. Of course, as with much of human behaviour, it is a clever unconscious defence and places the responsibility for accepting and understanding what you are saying on the shoulders of the person you are talking to or at.

When I talk at somebody, I preach to the other and want them to follow my values, ways and beliefs, rather than following them myself and allowing the other person to live their own lives. Somehow, when I preach I need to be ‘right’ and any difference is perceived as a threat. The indicators, too, are that I am not still convinced of what I am preaching.

When I talk to another I tell them what to feel, think, say and do and woe betide if they dare go against or not follow through on my advice-giving. However, the word ad-vice implies it is unwise — a vice — to give counsel to another, even when they request it. In any case, all I can do is talk about my own experiences. In speaking to others the focus is on the ‘you’; in speaking with others the source is the ‘I’. In preaching or advising, what we say to others is often what we need to be saying and doing for ourselves.

Mature communication is creating a shared space where the other person comes to their own decisions on the issues being discussed. It is for each of us to understand communication as about getting through to self, discovering our own truths and convictions and allowing others to get through to themselves. When communication comes from within, from the ‘I’ place, then it flows between people.

■ 7. Individuals who are troubled and troubling are not out to make life difficult for others but are unconsciously trying to show how difficult life is for them.

This truth springs from a lifetime of trying to understand and resolve my own troubled and troubling behaviour and that of the many individuals who sought therapy from me. This truth echoes another truth not mentioned above which is that parents (or others) do not deliberately and consciously neglect their children, but, nonetheless, they are responsible to, though not for, their actions.

Parents who possess high self-esteem — a strong consciousness of their unconditional loving nature and their power beyond measure — rarely neglect their children and when they do they are quick to make amends. Parents who have self-esteem difficulties, which we all have to

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ACTING OUT: Teenagers’ challenging behaviour is their way of revealing how difficult life is for them. Recognising and understanding this can help them to resolve their inner turmoil. Picture: iStock

some degree or other, unconsciously act-out or act-in their alienation from self and their dark actions towards children mirror their dark interiority.

Judgement, condemnation and labelling such parents mirrors a darkness within those who react in these ways, and only serves to further threaten the wellbeing of the targeted parents.

When I view a parent’s or another adult’s or child’s or teenager’s difficult behaviour as revealing how difficult life is for him or her, then I can truly help the person to consciously understand and resolve their inner turmoil so that they are no longer a threat to others. There is no possibility for progress when we protectively judge ourselves or others — we remain stuck in unconscious defences — and the whole sorry saga of neglect deepens like a coastal reef.

■ 8. A life examined is a life lived.

From the pen of the French philosopher, Rousseau, this truth demands little explanation. However, genuine kindness — with no strings attached — is a rare commodity but its presence radically changes the ethos of where we live, play, pray and work.

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■ 9. There is no greater wisdom than human kindness.

A life examined is a life lived calls for each of us to regularly observe how we are with ourselves, others and the environment, particularly when we are aggressive, passive, shy, timid, fearful, obsessive, dominating, controlling, etc.

These responses are substitute in nature and emotional safety needs to be found in order to act out from an inner solidity. The frequency, intensity and endurance over time of these substitute responses are important barometers of the urgency for unconditional love to be found so that mature progress can be made in one’s inner and outer worlds.

I will address the 10th truth — regarding the meaning of illness — next week to mark the launch of a new book, The Compassionate Intentions of Illness, written by myself and Helen Ruddle.

■ Dr Tony Humphreys is a clinical psychologist and is author of several books on practical psychology including Whose Life Are You Living?

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Getting your own way with a smile American researchers now believe a woman’s secret weapon for getting the things she wants is being ‘relentlessly’ nice. Anna Magee explores the subtle art of negotiation

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HETHER it’s applying for a pay rise or asking your husband to please wash up tonight’s plates (you did after all, cook the dinner, put out the garbage, water the garden, sweep the kitchen — oh, and work all day) one in five women never ask for the things they want. Fearing a fight, or worse being perceived as a nag, we try to keep the peace, and keep our mouths shut. But according to new research from the US, our need to be liked and to keep others happy can be an instinctive secret weapon when it comes to asking for — and getting — more of what we want, both in the workplace and at home.

We’ve quizzed the experts and come up with key strategies to make nice work for you.

1. STAY LIKEABLE: You might not think this is fair, but research from Carnegie Mellon University in the US has proven it to be true: as women being likeable is critically important to getting what we want. Top PR consultant Caroline Kennedy, rates likeablility highly. “It’s a simple truth: people like doing business with people they like,” she says. “And though, technically, it shouldn’t matter, the instinct to help is not as strong when you don’t like someone.”

Rating honesty and transparency as key to business success, Kennedy adds: “I could give you a million examples of how helping out others has helped to generate business somewhere down the line.”

A hard-edged negotiation style can often mean you come across as difficult to people, and they’re less likely to give you what you want, says Professor Linda Babcock, co-author of Why Women Don’t Ask (Piatkus, F11.10).

In fact, according to Dr Babcock’s research, a woman’s influence increases the more liked she is. But this doesn’t mean that negotiating has to be a popularity contest, it simply means that remaining pleasant, even when the stakes are high and we’re getting ‘no’ from every angle, can work to our advantage.

“When women first entered the workplace they often tried to do things like men,” says psychologist Roberta Nutt. “But it didn’t work. We don’t accept from women what we do from men.”

Picture: Getty Images

Remaining pleasant, even when the stakes are high and we’re getting ‘no’ from every angle, can work to our advantage Feelgood

In practice: You’ve been offered a new job with a far higher salary. “If you storm in and say to your boss: ‘I’ve got this other offer and if you don’t match it I’m walking,’ he/she may well react by showing you the door,” says Sara Laschever, negotiation expert and Professor Babcock’s co-author.

“Instead, harness your likeability factor — what we call being ‘relentlessly pleasant’ — by saying ‘Look, I really love working here, you’re a great boss and I

love the company, but this offer is great and I have to take it seriously. Do you think we could work out a way for me to stay?”

Obviously what you’re really saying is ‘Match the money or I’m outta here,’ but in a nice way’. If she says no, stay flexible and know what else might make you happy (see number 2 for more). Your boss might not be able to match the salary offer, but she may be able to give you a four-day week.

Tip: Be nice but not a pushover. “Be careful of simply being nice for the sake of it,” says Professor Babcock.

“You can be someone who uses their social skills to get people to relax and feel unthreatened. But you need to remember the end goal and work towards that, or something resembling it, that you’re happy with. If you’re just ‘nice’ for the sake of it, people will think ‘Oh she’s nice,’ but they won’t give you what you want.”

2. KNOW WHAT YOU WANT (but also what you’re willing to accept): “Negotiation is key,” says Patricia Callan, director of the Small Firms Association. “And it’s important to be truthful, open and honest in all your dealings. But at times something may have to be conceded in the short-term for longer-term gain.”

Another important attribute is the ability to listen. “It’s the best skill you can have when it comes to negotiating,” says Caroline Kennedy. “It gives you the opportunity to take the temperature, get a bird’s eye view

SUCCESSFUL TIPS: Caroline Kennedy, left, rates likeablility highly while Patricia Callan, right, says negotiating is

and move towards your own finish line.”

Being clear on what you want is also vital, says Jo Haigh, award-winning business woman and author of Tales From The Glass Ceiling (Piatkus, F11.69), but you also need to be pre-prepared for what you’re willing to accept, for the times when a yes is not forthcoming, so you don’t leave empty handed.

“I go into all my meetings with a wish list,” says Haigh. “Part of my preparation is to look at each wish and label it either ‘deal-breaker’, ‘must-have’, ‘would be great to get but not essential’ and ‘would be lovely but not that fussed.”

That way, you’re always armed with the possibility that they say yes to everything (you crack open the champagne and think about retirement) or that they Picture: Getty Images say no, you back down on some of the things you’re asking for, but don’t lose everything.

“The up shot of backing down on the things you’re asking for that you don’t really, really want is that the other side will feel as if they have won a victory, which could make them more likely to agree to what really matters to you,” says Haigh.

In practice: Your partner subtly ignores that request about the dishes in favour of Top Gear. Instead of asking again or bursting into tears and screaming that he doesn’t do anything, ever and threatening divorce, think about whether you might quietly wash them yourself (he will see this as his win, making him more likely to concede on something else you ask). Later, smile and ask if he might take out the garbage and water the garden each night from here on in.

Tip: Know your bottom line. “If your husband is not cooperating on the housework issue,” says Professor Babcock. “You might need to think about what for you would solve that, like hiring someone to clean the house or do the ironing. Appeal to his wants (see number 5) by saying something like ‘That will give me more time to throw parties at the weekend for our friends’.”

3. ASK WHAT THEY WANT: Most negotiations deadlock because both sides fail to see the other person’s point of view, something experts call ‘self-serving bias’.

“Becoming familiar with what the other person wants can help you frame your request as something that will benefit them,” says Laschever.

In practice: You’ve been with your partner for 18 years and life in the bedroom has become a little boring. Whatever you do, don’t tell him you’d frankly prefer a Jilly Cooper to his bedroom

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2010

skills. “Instead of saying ‘ you’re not pleasing me,’ ‘or sex is no fun anymore,’ be prepared to tell him what you want,” suggests Professor Babcock. “But first, try asking him whether there is anything that he would like to do to spice things up a bit.” You may get more than you bargained for.

Tip: Negotiating in the bedroom can be tricky, says Laschever. In fact, this is a good time to remember the ‘likeability factor’ (see number 1). “Smile, don’t threaten or complain, and whatever you do, don’t cry.”

4. COOPERATE, DON’T COMPETE: As women, taking into account the needs of others is something most of us do naturally, even obsessively.

But you can use this to your advantage. In fact, ‘co-operative bargaining’ is hailed as a breakthrough in the business world and refers to the fact that finding out what each person’s position is — what their needs, desires, ambitions or reasons for disagreeing with you might be, instead of butting heads stubbornly — can be a great tool for solving problems.

In practice: Your 14-year-old is testing the limits of your authority and coming home roughly two hours after curfew every weekend. “We’re now realising the old ‘command and control’ styles of leadership don’t work as well as collaboration, both at work and at home,” says Laschever. Instead of saying: “I’m your mother, I’m angry, do as I say”, try talking about what you both want and what needs to be done for that to happen. “Sit down and say, ‘look we have shared interests here. I’m concerned about your safety and have also noticed you’re not getting enough homework done during the week and cramming at weekends.

“That means you’re spending less time with your friends on Saturdays and also could mean you may not be able to get into that uni course you’ve been talking about. Let’s find a way you can fit everything in, so you get what you want.” Hopefully, he/she will work out for themselves that in order to get their own needs met, they need to come home earlier.

Tip: Don’t give up after the first act. Anyone with teens has to face the fact that the above might meet with a blank, bored, ‘no, don’t care.’ You might try another tack and barter with something you know he/she wants, like a longer curfew for a special occasion coming up.

If they agree to come home on time every night between now and then, would you concede they stay out a few hours later when it matters to them?

5. DO YOUR RESEARCH: “Prior research is particularly pertinent in the work place in terms of knowing your market value, especially when asking for more money,” says Laschever. “But we’ve also found that knowledge is power when negotiating at home too,” she says. “If you present your case calmly, with specific and targeted information that you know is accurate, you’ve got a powerful case.”

In practice: The monthly Visa bills have come in and your partner has spent F300 on yet more kit for the jogging he keeps threatening to take up. Your initial reaction is to wave the bill in his face asking ‘Haven’t you ever heard of the credit crunch, you useless man!’ Babcock suggests first asPicture: iStock sembling the figures so he can see clearly how his spending is squeezing the budget. Then ask him, ‘What do you think we can do to cut back?’

Tip: “Saying ‘we’ instead of ‘you’ turns it from an accusation or a nag into a problem you’re solving together,” says Babcock.

6. REJECTED? GET USED TO IT: As women we tend to take it as a personal affront when we finally find the courage to ask for something and people say a flat ‘no’.

Surely trying to get used to it is a recipe for 24-hour tears before bedtime? “A ‘no’ is not an insult to your existence, it’s simply a no to that particular question,” says Professor Babcock. Negotiating coaches usually advise people to ‘go four rounds’ before giving up on their requests. That means continuing to put the above principles into practice after the first ‘no’ — and the second, and even the third and “ you might find on your fourth attempt, they say yes.”

In practice: You want to ask your boss to re-think your hours so you can leave at 4pm (but you don’t want a drop in pay). She says no the first time around. “Think about how this could pose a problem for your boss and enter the next round with a solution for her,” suggests Professor Babcock. This could be offering to be available on your mobile during your train journey home. If that meets with a no as well, it could mean offering to take on that difficult client or project that no-one else wants, or coming in a couple of hours early.

Tip: Remember that if people always say yes to your requests, you may be asking for too little, or not aiming high enough. “Train your mind to view the odd ‘no’ as positive; as a by-product of you taking a risk and requesting something bolder than you’d normally ask for,” says Professor Babcock. You never know, they just might surprise you.

Mistakes women make

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EGOTIATING at home or at work essentially involves the same principles, says communication coach Juliet Erickson, who coached the London 2012 Olympic Bid Team and who is author of Nine Ways to Walk Around a Boulder (Kyle Cathie £8.99).

Often, female executives negotiating multi-million dollar deals run into the same problems the rest of us have with our family and friends — and make the same mistakes.

1. Wavering at ‘No’: The key to saying ‘No’ effectively is to say it once and say it well. Often as women we try and fill in the silence or alleviate our discomfort by apologising for simply saying no.

Fix it: Pause after you’ve said no, then try one of these to ‘soften’ it: ‘No, thank you.’, ‘No, I would prefer not to’, ‘No. Can I help you find an alternative?’

2. Taking criticism personally: Most of us find it hard to deal with criticism, even if it’s fair. The rule is: fair or unfair, don’t make it about you.

Fix it: Before responding to criticism, be sure to understand it — this will protect you against things getting worse. Try asking, ‘Why do you feel that way? or ‘Please explain a little more about what you mean.’ You may discover something you can fix or do better next time around, or you may just find that the person has no real criticism and is just being difficult.

3. Negotiating at the wrong time: Action is important, but so is judicious inaction. Don’t negotiate if you are tired, under time pressure, hungry, hurt or lonely. Eat the meal you skipped, calm down, perhaps with a walk in the park for 20 minutes if you’re angry, don’t hide away if you are lonely or hurt and take a break if you are overworked. Then return to the negotiating table with your head clear and ready.

4. Avoiding asking in the first place: Women find it hard to ask for what they want and then get frustrated when things don’t go their way. But often they think all negotiations have to be gung-ho and confrontational, when the best ones aren’t. Asking is not a dirty word — be sure to know what you can get, what you want, but also what you’re prepared to give up or exchange. And be prepared for a yes, but be sure it’s what you want.

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Dr Niamh Houston

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Dr Niamh Houston is a GP with a special interest in integrative medicine. If you have a question about your child’s health email it to feelgood@examiner.ie or send a letter to Feelgood Irish Examiner City Quarter Lapps Quay Cork

I HAVE heard that there is a blood test available to see if you are at risk of getting breast cancer. There is a history of breast cancer in my family — should I have this test?

A. There are two genes — BRCA1 and BRCA2 — that belong to a class of genes known as tumour suppressors. But mutations of these genes can occur and have been linked to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.

There is a genetic blood test available to check for specific genetic mutations (BRCA1 and BRCA2) linked with breast and/or ovarian cancer. A woman’s risk of developing breast and or ovarian cancer is significantly increased if she inherits these genes. But not every woman who has this genetic mutation will develop cancer, and not every breast or ovarian cancer in such families is linked to a harmful mutation in one of these genes. Cancer in families can also be due to other genetic or environmental factors.

In a family with a history of breast and/or ovarian cancer, it is best to test first the family member who has the cancer. Then if that person is found to have the harmful BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, then other family members can be tested also.

What happens if the test is positive?

Remember that a positive test result provides information only on what your risk is for developing either of these two cancers. It does not tell you if you will actually develop cancer or when. Not every woman who has this genetic mutation will develop breast or ovarian cancer.

If the test is positive, there are several options available to help manage your overall risk. This is why genetic counselling is strongly advised before and after a woman has the test. It will help you make an informed decision and understand the benefits and risk of having the test. In cases where a family has a history of breast and or ovarian cancer, but no genetic mutation is known or found, a negative test is not helpful.

Role of mammograms A mammogram can be used either for screening or to diagnose breast cancer. A screening mammogram is used to detect breast changes in women who have no signs or symptoms. It is used to detect cancer before any clinical signs are noticeable. A screening mammogram is a way of detecting disease — it does not change a woman’s risk of developing cancer. The aim of screening mammograms is to find cancer early, when it may be most treatable. A mammogram it is not always accurate. If you’re told your mammogram is abnormal, other tests such as breast ultrasound or biopsy may be needed. Mammograms can miss one in five breast cancers. Experts have yet to agree on when women should begin to have regular mammograms.

Picture: Jose Luis Pelaez, Inc./CORBIS

A mammogram can be used either for a screening or to detect breast cancer In Ireland, BreastCheck is offered to women from ages 50 to 64. In America, women are advised to begin having mammograms at 40 years. If you are high risk then screening mammograms may need to begin before you are 40. With age, breast tissue becomes fattier making it easier to find changes on mammograms. But women under 40 tend to have more dense than fatty breast tissue and this can make it hard to detect suspicious changes.

This can be overcome by combining a mammogram with a breast ultrasound.

An MRI and a mammogram is recommended for screening women with BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations.

Having a mammogram can lead to about 10% of women having other tests. Most abnormal findings aren’t cancer. A false positive result can occur with a mammogram, this means the results are suspicious of cancer, but turn out not to be cancer, but women have to go through more tests and investigations before this can be confirmed.

Screening for breast cancer should involve a

combined approach — a breast examination by your doctor as well as a mammogram and/or ultrasound. Talk to you your doctor, find out as much information as possible and make a decision that is right for you.

Examining your own breasts Self-breast examination was once though essential for early breast cancer detection, but now is seen as optional. What’s now stressed is “breast awareness” — being familiar with the normal consistency of your breasts. Many women find lumps or changes in their breasts, some of these are normal changes that occur at different times of the menstrual cycle. If you decide to self-examine your breast, it is best to do this within the week after the last day of your period, when your breasts are less tender. If you have no periods, choose the same day each month, but it is not essential to self-examine every month. The main message is that if you notice any change from normal, you attend your doctor.

NOTE: The information contained in Dr Houston’s column is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a doctor first

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Catherine Shanahan MUM’S WORLD Feelgood

E knew that cold turkey would always put you through hell — but could hell really be this bad? Night time was monstrous and sleep impossible. The anxiety brought on by withdrawal left him a snivelling wreck.

First it was the tremors, then the shakes, then the muscle cramps, then the chills and the sweats. At times, as he thrashed in his bed, he subconsciously called out for his mother, but help was nowhere at hand.

There were moments the craving got so bad he almost crawled out of his skin. Only the dawn chorus could save him. He was up with the first twitter, and hunger and daylight momentarily put paid to the pangs.

He had never considered himself a hard-core user. His parents begged to differ.

They had tried scores of times to wean him off slowly, but were met with failure each time. Bribes were useless, placebos tossed aside with the derision of a dog confronted

with a bowl of KittyCat. In the end, the grandfather took matters in hand — he reached into his two-year-old grandchild’s cot and plucked out the drug of choice. There was nothing for it but a sudden, sharp shock to the system in a desperate bid to break the habit that by now had a vice-like hold.

The grandson’s reaction was not immediate. Like any addict it took a couple of hours before withdrawal began to kick in. It coincided with nap time. “Dummy” he said expectantly, as his grandfather laid him in his cot. “Dummy” he repeated as granddad walked towards the bedroom door. “DUMMY!” he roared in disbelief as granddad’s footsteps faded, leaving him to face his fears.

The day was napless, and after that came a whole succession of napless days and largely sleepless nights. The addict’s family counted the cost of depriving him of his dummy as

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2010

he barreled his way through more moods than a spayed cat. Irritability, insomnia, restlessness, goose flesh, uncontrollable yawning — cold turkey had fuelled the lot.

Acute physical withdrawal lasted longer than anyone’s guess. Then came the PAW, the post-acute withdrawal, the mental state that told him he couldn’t do without. In desperation, the dummy-lover’s mother read up on the guidelines for quitters: ‘call a friend,’ they advised ‘when you feel like reaching for a drag’ or ‘count backwards from 10 to zero whenever a craving hits’, useless advice for a child yet to count forwards.

The mother persevered in her efforts, mindful that prising the monkey off her young son’s back didn’t prove the circus had left town. Her resolve was finally rewarded, when, after a period of abstinence longer than Lent in the desert, the Last Temptation of Charlie was knocked on the head.

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Slí Eile is an innovative therapeutic community offering an alternative to psychiatric care. Colette Sheridan talks to the project’s founder about its expansion

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LANS to include farming as part well as survival, he noted four fundamental of a successful venture, which psychological needs: belonging, power, freeoffers a home to people with dom and fun. Hamilton also worked as a volmental health difficulties, are being launched unteer at a community farm, Hopewell, in later this month.

Ohio. With responsibility and respect as core Joan Hamilton is the woman behind the values, Choice Theory is the philosophy innovative centre Slí Eile in Charleville, Co which underpins Slí Eile.

Cork. Determined to offer an alternative to Hamilton bought Villa Maria through the the traditional psychiatric system, she hopes Department of the Environment’s social to raise F3 million to buy 120 acres in a bid housing scheme. As well as receiving funding to offer further options to residents at the from the Health Executive Service, Slí Eile is centre. aided by donations and once-off grants.

A bakery already being run by the residents Anne (not her real name) has been living at — Joan ran a food processing business for Slí Eile for three weeks. The 49-year-old seven years — will be officially launched on mother of four grown-up children has been April 23 to coincide with the announcement in the psychiatric system since she was 23. of fundraising for the farm by Slí Eile Farm Mentally drained and having recently had a Fund (SEFF). hysterectomy, she is experiencing Performing the official launch of the farm much-needed respite at Slí Eile having been venture at the Charleville Park Hotel will be told about it by the staff at Edel House in actor Jeremy Irons who is a patron of Slí Eile. Cork, a refuge for homeless women and chilDr Tony Bates from Headstrong will also dren, where she had been staying. speak on the day and another high-profile “It’s great here. We’re all pulling together as medic, Professor Ivor a team. Being in psyBrowne, will act as a chiatric hospitals was consultant to the proterrible. You feel ject. there’s no way out The proposed comand no one can unmunity farm would derstand what’s going provide a supportive livon in your head. I’m ing environment for up on medication for the to 16 people who are rest of my life. I sufexperiencing or have fer from severe deexperienced mental pression.” health difficulties, says Anne hopes to Joan Hamilton, 65. eventually secure her Self-reliance and own home. self-satisfaction would Josephine be encouraged among O’Driscoll, 39, is a the residents through support worker who horticulture and animal ANOTHER WAY: Support worker Caroline experienced depresO’Grady and founder Joan Hamilton in the sion four years ago. husbandry.

Slí Eile — which cur- new kitchen at Slí Eile. Picture:Denis Scannell Now well, she finds rently houses five feSlí Eile a therapeutic male residents and three support staff memenvironment. “I know all the girls are workbers in the six-bedroom home — attracted ing hard to overcome their illness. They all controversy in its early days and took three have hopes, dreams and ambitions. During attempts to successfully establish it in the my own depression, losing confidence was a north Cork town. There were objections major issue. You lose all hope. Slí Eile is a when she first tried to get the project off the great model. It definitely helps people on the ground. road to recovery.”

“The objections were based on ignorance.

Prof Browne says the Slí Eile model is People didn’t understand what Slí Eile was something he has been looking at for a long about. But since we’ve moved in here, we’ve time. “If you look at the psychiatric services, had nothing but support,” says Ms Hamilton. there’s nothing available in the sense of a “We all know somebody who has been in therapeutic community. People go into hospsychiatric care. We have a responsibility to pital and get stuffed with drugs. They may inform ourselves. Unfortunately, there is still attend an outpatient clinic and often go back a stigma [attached to mental health issues]. to the home that was part of creating the One of the residents of Slí Eile is Hamilproblem in the first place. There’s no context ton’s daughter, Geraldine, 44, who was the in which they can be in an environment catalyst for setting it up. where they can begin to grow.”

“Geraldine was in and out of hospital, givHe says psychiatric hospitals “are not totally en drug treatment and discharged. It was very useless. With the help of medication, people much the revolving door system where three can get rid of some of their symptoms. But out of four psychiatric hospital admissions are in the sense of real human change, very little re-admissions. As a family, our observations is achieved. The person tends to go back to were that the traditional psychiatric system square one. What is needed is a mixture of was causing deterioration. I felt helpless.” warm human relationships and also a disciHowever, Hamilton then read Toxic Psyplined environment but not disciplined in a chiatry by American psychiatrist, Peter Breg- punitive sense.” gin. “He talked about a therapeutic living The idea of working on a farm, close to environment. I knew that was needed.” nature, can be healing, says Prof Browne, Hamilton went on to study Choice Theory adding that he would like to see Slí Eile stud— based on the belief that almost all beied and compared with traditional psychiatric haviour is chosen — as defined by controver- treatments. sial American doctor, William Glasser. As ■ www.slieilehousing.com

Feelgood

Picture:Denis Scannell

Path to recovery Slí Eile’s recovery journey involves : ■ A re-awakening of hope after despair.

■ A commitment of active participation in life and moving away from isolation.

■ A shift to engagement and active coping rather than passive adjustment.

■ A move away from viewing oneself as primarily a person with a psychiatric disorder to reclaiming a positive sense of self.

■ A transformation from alienation to a sense of meaning and purpose.

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2010

We all know somebody who has been in psychiatric care.

We have a responsibility to inform ourselves — Joan

Hamilton

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Now you know...

Roz Crowley

FIRST ARRIVAL: Jahrea O’Hara, 7, celebrates the arrival of the first new season of Irish peppers to SuperValu stores throughout Ireland. Picture:James

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ICHARD BERTINET originally trained as a baker in Brittany and since 1988 has been living in Britain running the Bertinet Cookery School. What I like about his latest cookbook, Cook in a Class of your Own, is his use of the question-and-answer format throughout — highlighting many issues which are echoed in letters and emails I get from readers.

Bertinet, pictured here, also has good ideas on how to bring the best of professional kitchen organisation to our home spaces.

“Psychologically, once I have picked up the kids’ toys, items of school uniform and all the bits and pieces that seem to accumulate around the kitchen table, emptied the dishwasher... and cleared and cleaned my work surfaces, I’m in the right frame of mind and ready to immerse myself in cooking,” he says.

In the book and on the accompanying DVD, Bertinet gives methods for basics such as chopping an onion properly and making mayonnaise.

I like his tip for serving steak rare without being bloody: place the cooked meat between sheets of kitchen paper and press hard.

The bloody juices will be absorbed by the paper, but the meat will remain tender and rare as required. There is lots to learn from this understated chef who has a genuine intention to help us cook well and healthily. In hardback from Kyle Cathie, F22.

With a little help from Richard Bertinet, here are the answers to the questions I’m most frequently asked: GARLIC Q: What is the difference between crushing, chopping or grating garlic?

A: Chopping garlic results in a less even flavouring, unless it’s cooked for a few hours and melds into a stew. Bertinet crushes the peeled garlic lightly with the back of a knife to break down the cells, releasing more of the oil and flavour (he doesn’t do it with salt like other chefs).

I often grate garlic on the microplaner and never try to brown it in a wok as it can burn.

Horan/photocall Ireland.

how peppers differ, and other tips Garlic is also delicious roasted in the skins of the cloves. Add to the roasting dish when cooking meats. A little water or stock in the tin will stop it from burning and provide delicious juices.

Q: When there are green centres in garlic, should they be removed?

A: The green sprouting shoots we see in the centre of each clove indicate they are ready to be planted. In a good summer, this clove could become a full head of garlic.

When chopping or crushing garlic it’s best to remove the green shoots as they can become bitter and take from the soft deep flavour of garlic. Halve the clove, flick out the shoots and discard.

PEPPERS Rich in vitamins A and C, peppers are low in calories and have a healthy amount of folic acid, potassium and some fibre. Because of their waxy skin, they can be stored without losing a lot of vitamin C and so are good to buy at this time of year when there is poor local produce.

Q: What’s the difference between red, green and yellow peppers?

A: As peppers grow, they gradually turn from green to red, so the red one is more mature and also sweeter. Green peppers have more bitter taste so are good to add to bland dishes, with chicken for example, but avoid them with delicate fish. Yellow and orange

peppers are somewhere in between and the small varieties can be used raw as well as cooked. Red peppers are delicious roasted, as the heat helps to concentrate their flavour.

They can then be used hot or cold in a salad with slices of garlic and some soft cheese.

Bertinet recommends the pointy Romano variety which have the best flavour.

VANILLA: Q: Is the difference between vanilla extract and vanilla essence worth the money?

A: Vanilla pods are the cured beans of a climbing orchid and the best and most famous come from Madagascar. As with olive oil, cold pressing is best. With vanilla this is done by steeping the pods in alcohol and takes time, adding to their cost.

Vanilla essence or flavouring is usually produced synthetically and can have a harsh flavour. I have paid F16 for a bottle of extract, but a good middle ground is a 100ml bottle of Fair Trade Vanilla Extract from Steenberg at Oxfam shops which costs about F8 and lasted about a year.

OIL: Q: What is the best oil to use for stir-frying?

A: Bertinet reminds us that when we

stir-fry the oil needs to be heated to a very high temperature. Different oils have a different ‘smoke point’ and we can easily lose their health benefits by overheating them.

He favours vegetable or rapeseed oil for deep frying and stir-frying. While olive oil doesn’t have a high smoking point, I find myself using it as I always add a little water so that vegetables are steamed to keep their best flavours and nutrients. Extra virgin olive oil has a better flavour for vegetables and fish stir fries, but stick to rapeseed for meat.

ORGANIC Q: Is organic always better?

A: Bertinet is concerned about the environment and flavour. “The more our food is produced in a wholesome, environmentally friendly way the better,” he says.

But just because it has an organic label (and costs more), don’t expect it to taste better or, in the case of more complex foods, to be better made.

For example, an organic loaf of bread might be made from good ingredients, but if it is made in a fast track, industrial bakery using all sorts of artificial ‘improvers’, it still won’t be good bread.

Conversely, there are numerous committed farmers raising animals in the best way possible, who don’t feel they need to tick boxes to become certified organic.

It’s not enough to think organic, but to know where our food comes from. Local is always a good policy.

Use your loaf: eat sourdough

Compost making

SOURDOUGH is bread which has been left to ferment so it rises without yeast. It has particularly nutritious advantages.

The fermentation of the dough neutralises the phytic acid in the grain and adds benefits which range from the prevention of kidney stones and cardiovascular disease to boosting the immune system to the usual nerve-healthy B vitamins in bread.

Wholefood advocates recommend sourdough to stimulate mental focus, and for

LEARN how to make your own compost at a meeting hosted by Cork Free Choice Consumer Group.

Donal O’Leary from Wastedown will explain how to make compost at home.

Billy Wigham will talk about how he produces Gee-Up compost and Caroline Robinson, pictured here, will demonstrate how to make compost teas.

Crawford Art Gallery Café, Cork, Thursday, April 29, at 7.30pm. Entrance F6, includes tea and coffee.

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those who find bread causes bloating or candida, sourdough may be the solution.

With a little patience, it’s easy to make a starter dough from simple flour and water, sourdough, although this is not for the first-time bread maker. Watch out for sourdough breads in markets and shops made by good bakers such as Declan Ryan of Arbutus breads in Cork.

To make your own, Andrew Whitley’s Bread Matters is the best guide, Fourth Estate, F18.

BREAD OF LIFE: Sourdough has a host of nutritious properties.

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How killer disease can be avoided

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ORE than 2,000 people die from stroke annually in Ireland which is more than the number who die from breast cancer, prostate cancer and bowel cancer combined. Stroke is also the leading cause of acquired adult disability in Ireland and an estimated 30,000 people live with disability here as a result of stroke.

“For nearly two years, the Irish Heart Foundation has called for the publication of the national cardiovascular strategy which will include stroke for the first time,” says Irish Heart Foundation chief executive Michael O’Shea.

A new policy may bring about significant improvements to stroke services for nearly 10,000 patients around the country, says O’Shea, adding if the Government backs up the strategy with the necessary funding, it will significantly reduce death and disability from the third biggest killer in this country.

The news coincided with the 13th

FACE FACTS: Facial weakness is one of the three key signs of stroke.

Picture: Getty Images

Deirdre O'Flynn

MOSTLY MEN annual stroke conference hosted by Irish Heart Foundation Council on Stroke in Croke Park at the end of last month. “There is more than one avoidable death from stroke occurring in Ireland every day and we know that one in five people will have a stroke in their lifetime,” says the Irish Heart Foundation’s chair of the Council on Stroke, Dr Frances Horgan. “So the quality of our stroke services will directly or indirectly affect just about everyone living here.”

So, what is a stroke? Essentially, a stroke affects the arteries supplying blood, oxygen and nutrients to the brain. It occurs when a blood vessel bursts or an artery is clogged by a blood clot or other matter. This

Why Padraig has victory in sight

Heed your gut feelings for cancer awareness

YOU may have noticed Padraig Harrington appearing on TV ads for laser surgery specialists, Optical Express.

“It’s no secret that laser-vision correction has made a massive difference to my life and career,” said the back-to-back British Open champion (2007, 2008) and US PGA champion (2008).

“For years, I played with poor eyesight and it affected me and my game. Without the simple procedure, which was carried-out in London and Dublin, I would not be able to compete at the highest level. It’s certainly helped me and it could assist others in many aspects of their lives. My only regret is that I wish I’d done it sooner,” he said.

Harrington is fronting a television advertising campaign for Optical Express on ITV, Sky Sports and other digital channels.

THE Irish Cancer Society has designated April as national Bowel Cancer Awareness Month. The latest data from the National Cancer Registry of Ireland shows there were 2,216 new cases of bowel cancer diagnosed in 2008.

Worryingly, a national survey commissioned by the Irish Cancer Society to assess bowel cancer awareness showed there continues to be an alarming lack of knowledge of the early signs of

TAKE

4

MATERNITY BASICS: Littlewoods Ireland has just launched a new maternity clothing range, DVO Maternity, created in collaboration with TV personality and mum-to-be Denise van Outen, right. The collection is made in soft stretchy fabrics and key pieces include a black jumpsuit and a fitted wrap dress in grey and purple. There are also yoga-inspired separates such as jersey cropped harem pants, tank tops in a selection of colours and zip hoodies in navy and white. The 16-piece collection is available on www.littlewoodsireland.ie.

Prices start at F24.

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SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: Padraig Harrington with his son, Ciaran. The golfer says he would not have been so successful without laser correction.

Picture: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

bowel cancer.

There is a public seminar for patients on Saturday, April 24, at the Davenport Hotel, D2. Or call the National Cancer Helpline on 1800-200-700.

■ Our picture shows Munster Rugby stars (L-R) Mick O'Driscoll, Denis Fogarty, Marcus Horan and Jean de Villiers launching the campaign.

Picture: Arthur Ellis/Press22

blockage deprives the brain of blood, which causes the nerve cells in the affected area to die within minutes.

Speaking at the conference, Irish Heart Foundation head of advocacy Chris Macey outlined plans to launch a national FAST awareness campaign to drive greater knowledge of the symptoms of stroke and to highlight the need for emergency treatment in hospital for anyone suspected of having a stroke. FAST refers to the main symptoms of stroke — Facial weakness, Arm weakness, Speech problems and Time to call 999.

As part of the Irish Heart Foundation’s stroke campaign, the national charity fighting stroke and heart disease is facilitating the development of a nationwide network of stroke support groups, comprehensive information provision for stroke patients and their families and the design of a national stroke register.

■ For more information, see the Irish Heart Foundation’s dedicated website www.stroke.ie

DId you know...

Chronic migraine sufferers have significantly lower household incomes Source: American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention study

Bumps & Babies NIGHT NIGHT: With the arrival of longer evenings and being out and about more, you may be finding it difficult to settle your little ones to sleep.

The versatile Gro Anywhere Blind is a portable blackout blind which fits all window styles and can be put in place in minutes. Attaching directly to the glass, it can fit windows up to 135 x 200cm and comes in a handy travel bag. The Gro Anywhere Blind is available from www. baby travelshop. ie for F34.99.

MOISTURE PROTECTION: Baby powder has many uses in warmer weather for all the family, helping to absorb excess moisture and prevent chafing. Sprinkle some on kids feet at the beach for example, to gently remove stuck on sand before you go home.

Silky smooth and lavender-scented GAIA Natural Baby Powder, F4.99 is made from talc-free cornstarch and is available from pharmacies, healthstores and some supermarkets.

The range includes body wash, conditioner, moisturiser and massage oil is made from natural ingredients and is free from soap, sulphates, parabens, etc.

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2010

BOHO STYLE: Discreet and stylish the Diva Dress won the gold award for Best Feeding Top/Bra in the Practical Parenting Awards this year. With a panel around the bust that can be lifted for quick, easy access, and ties at the back for a good fit, it comes in Boho Blossom (pictured, or black) in all sizes. The Frugi Mother range of organic cotton breastfeeding / maternity wear is now available from the Organic Cotton Shop in Clonakilty, Co Cork. The Diva Dress costs F65.45. Call 023-8834393; www.organiccottonshop.ie

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Forget dramatic eyes. The nude look is hot. But if you think baring all will be simplicity itself, think again

THE NEWS ON ...

Men’s Eye Stuff WE’VE got so grown up about men’s beauty now, that eye creams can no longer raise even a mere snigger. Oh no, instead, today’s post-metro male is not only probably using an eye cream, but may even be going for a roll-on version, too.

L’Oreal Paris Men Expert’s Ice Cool roll on, is ideal for guys who need a wake-me-up around the eye area in the morning, and is particularly nice to use after a gym session and a sauna. Perfect. Ice Cool roll on costs F17.49.

TAKE THREE

Emily O’Sullivan

T

HE nude eye may be one of the hottest looks for spring/summer 2010, but if you think it’s simplicity incarnate then forget it. This is a look that trades on its perfection.

Real nude eyes — that bleary, crotchety 7am eye with its red mottled eyelids and dark blue circles underneath — are not what some of the world’s top make-up artists mean when they say nude.

Still, if you are attempting this look then you’ll find it surprisingly peppy — it does give you an instantly “more awake” effect.

Dark eyeshadows can often collect in fine lines around the eyes, but with a nude shade this is not an issue. Plus, whether you’re wearing it with a soft pink gloss, a slightly beige lipstick, or a pop of coral colour on the lips, the nude eye is central to this look.

It’s also great for simple, elegant, casual office-time make-up — you don’t want anything too directional in the boardroom. And while fashion’s predominant nude shades can be hard to wear for certain skin tones, a nude eye is easy for everyone to pull off.

The key place to start is with an eye cream.

Promises made by some eye creams can be spectacularly outlandish — it’s worth bearing in mind that no cream is going to get rid of bags or under-eye circles, but there are great products around that hydrate the area which does minimise the “appearance” of fine lines and dark circles.

We’re currently hooked on Boots No7’s Protect & Perfect Eye Cream, F23, although the ease with which the new Garnier Caffeine Anti-Dark Circles 2-in-1 Roll On, F14.99, can be applied is a big draw, too.

Not only that, Garnier’s new product is also a

Put a lid on it

concealer — nifty.

A good way of smoothing out the texture and look of the skin on your eyelids (which, as we age, can look thinner and more ruddy) is to apply a little foundation or mineral powder foundation to the lid when you’re applying it to the rest of your face. This makes a big difference and can work brilliantly instead of concealer.

If you’re not content to leave well enough alone, then tap into a bit of beauty wizardry with a really good quality concealer that gets rid of your troll eyes in an instant. Benefit is a great company to look to for excellent, multi-tasking concealers.

When things are bad on the eye front, we turn to Confessions of a Concealaholic, F33.50, the You’re Bluffing redness concealing wand, F26.50, Lemon Aid Colour correcting eyelid primer, F23.50, or the

Brows A-Go-Go brow and eye shaping kit, F39.50, which has a light rose-coloured powder that instantly lifts the eyes and makes you look as if you’ve had a spectacular night’s sleep.

If you’re happy your eyes look pretty and perfected, then you can leave your nude eye as it is — simple and clean looking, but a little lift with beige and biscuit shades can give the nude eye another dimension entirely.

A good one for lovers of low-maintenance make-up is the Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Eye Shadow in Suede, F24.

Christian Dior’s 5 Couleurs Designer in Nude Pink Design, F54, is perfect for those who want to take a nude look through to a smokey eye smoulder in the evening. Or try Chanel’s super-elegant Ombre Essentielle in Sillage, F23.

Garnier Caffeine Anti-Dark Circles 2-in-1 Roll On, F14.99. This two-in-one product includes a caffeine-enriched formula that refreshes and hydrates tired-looking eyes, while also using tinted mineral pigments to help cover up dark circles. Not only that, but the slender bottle means it’s ideal for slipping into your handbag for pepping up eyes on the go.

plied so easily with the fingertips and it lasts well throughout the day. It’s a simple, effective and flattering product.

Exfoliators Feeling a bit lumpy and bumpy around the bottom area — well it’s getting into bikini time, so if your behind is a little lacking in smoothness, then get thee an exfoliator.

And quick.

Boots Botanics Cleansing Body Scrub, F6.50. This won’t rock your world — it’s a little too creamy to be really effective, while the micro-beads are too small to get rid of much in the dead-skin department.

Score: 4 Clarins Toning Body Polisher, F36.67. If you’re after a body polisher that really feels like it’s scrubbing off the bad stuff, then this is the one for you. It’s got a great texture, thick and just a little bit oily, which means you can really slough it on and get it to work on your bumpy bits. It’s expensive, but effective and very addictive.

Score: 10 Clinique Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliator, F27. Let’s start by saying that this exfoliator is highly effective. It has a really dense texture that is excellent at getting rid of your hideous bits. But the smell is definitely not for us. Halfway between menthol and something deeply chemical, it’s the one thing that lets this product down.

Score: 6

STUFF WE LIKE Clinique Quick Eyes Cream Shadow in Sparkling Nude F19. This is a lovely, nudey eyeshadow and great for people who want a bit more ‘oompf’ than just a natural bone shade. It’s also easy to apply, thanks to the soft applicator.

Boots No & Protect & Perfect Eye Cream, F23. If you want your eyes to look their best, then you need a good eye cream. This is a good choice from Boots, as it includes a formula that has been proven to work.

Apply twice a day for best results.

Feelgood

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Eye Shadow, F24. I love Bobbi Brown’s cream eye shadow, because it can be ap-

Christian Dior’s 5 Couleurs Designer in Nude Pink Design, F54. If you don’t want to go entirely nude, then this little compact from Christian Dior is just the ticket. The nude shades can be worn alone, or blended with darker, duskier pinks for a more dramatic look.

Benefit Confessions of a Concealaholic, F33.50. Making sure things are covered up well

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2010

is the number one priority if you’re opting for a nude-eye look. This is a great little kit for gaining perfection with mini-size offerings of “that gal“, erase paste, boi-ing, lemon aid and eye bright. Love it.

Maybelline The Falsies Mascara, F12.39. A good, deep black, seriously thickening mascara is just the thing to set off a nude eye. On the catwalk, models may have opted for a more Tilda Swinton-style nude effect, but it can make you look very washed out, unless you have strong features to carry it off.

Instead, give yourself a little definition with this new beauty from Maybelline.

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Q Megan Sheppard Do you have a question for Megan Sheppard?

Email it to feelgood@examiner.ie or send a letter to Feelgood Irish Examiner City Quarter Lapps Quay Cork

tion and pain of tendonitis is due to the I HAVE been suffering tearing of the dense tendon fibres at a dry, irritated eyes for the microscopic level, which results in scar past four months. I have tissues, so it can take some time before a feeling of grittiness your muscles and joints are functioning when I close my eyes. I normally once more. have tried numerous eye drops: For topical relief which will aid healLiquifilm, Lacri-Lube, Vidisic, Optiing, try MSM Joint and Muscle balm crom etc and find little relief. I have from Higher Nature. This is a warming carpal tunnel syndrome in my hands cream which provides deep heat treatand would really appreciate any adment — increasing blood flow to the vice you could offer. area to promote healing, and relieving A. You don't mention your age, so I aches and pains. Available from will begin by mentioning that dry, gritwww.health-store.co.uk, 100ml costs ty eyes are a very common side-effect F12.35 (free delivery to Ireland). of the hormonal changes associated The glucosamine, chondroitin, and with menopause. People typically MSM are exactly what I would recomequate menopause with hot flushes and mend, although you don’t mention what night sweats, but a decrease in oestroyour daily dosages are. It might be worth gen also leads to reduced fluid produclooking into getting some pure MSM tion — which is why vaginal dryness, powder (actually crystals) and taking mouth dryness, and dry eyes are comtherapeutic doses. You can purchase mon side-effects.

MSM powder in large quantities from Contact lens wearing can cause the most naturopaths in kilo or half kilo irritation you describe, as can some bags. To test the purity, take a teaspoon medications and artificial heating or of the crystals and stir into a glass of wacooling systems. Dry, gritty eyes are ter — pure MSM is clear, whereas fillers often a side-effect of health conditions will make the water turn cloudy. such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Start with one teaspoon daily, and if rosacea, so do check with your doctor you are not experiencing any change afif any of these may be a concern so ter a few days, increase the dosage by that you can take an appropriate course one teaspoon every few days (taking no of action. more than four teaspoons daily). A word Vitamin A is important for eye BRIGHT EYES: Vitamin A is important for eye health and health, and can be obtained through a can be obtained through a healthy wholefoods diet high of warning: MSM isn’t pleasant to take with plain water, as it is quite bitter tasthealthy wholefoods diet high in fresh dark leafy greens. If you prefer supple- in fresh dark leafy greens. This is especially important if ing. I stir it into a large glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, and while you can mentation, you will need about 10,000 a woman is menopausal as dry eyes can become a problem. Picture: iStock still taste it, it goes down more easily.

IU daily. Essential fatty acids are imRegarding your concerns about which portant for body fluid production, conessential fatty acid omega supplement to sider MorEPA (referred to in more detake, I believe the best product for the job is tail below), and increase natural oils in your 1,000mg of glucosamine and 400mg chon- MorEPA from Healthy and Essential diet through eating oily fish, or nuts, seeds (www.healthyandessential.ie; 045-892267). droitin, and 1,000mg of MSM separately. and fruits high in EFAs (avocado, coconut, I'm also taking turmeric and cherry active Each 1000mg capsule contains 580mg of chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, brazils, almonds supplements, and an oil supplement with a EPA and 80mg of DHA, with a total etc). omega-3 content of 70%. These capsules are 2:1:1 ratio of Omegas 3, 6 and 9. I’m Lastly, for the carpal tunnel, your best bet wondering if these combinations are effec- created from deep-sea fish (not farmed), usis to visit an acupuncturist, since this has ing a unique patented filtration and chilling tive. proven extremely effective in providing method to remove mercury and other toxins.

A. Generally any clicking or cracking long-term relief from this condition.

The process not only ensures the bioavailsound that your joints make is the result of ability of the active ingredients, it also inone or more of the following: soft tissue Q. I’m in my 30s and am concerned cludes an enzyme treatment and the addition with my joints and the amount of cracking passing over bone, (particularly where there of orange oil to eliminate fishy odour and is tension in the tissue), the pop of gas bubthat I hear in my shoulder, hip, knee and bles escaping the joints, or arthritic joints. In create a pleasant tasting supplement. The best foot, in particular. Up until about six part is that MorEPA provides your entire most cases the first two explanations are the months ago, it didn’t seem so frequent or daily omega-3 dosage with just one capsule. likely reasons, however a family history of loud, but now it’s a daily occurrence. In Keep up the supplementation and ease joint problems and/or degeneration due to that time I have developed a more proyour body gently back to full health — this ageing can lead to the third option. nounced snapping hip, while my right way, you are less likely to experience the onCertainly at your age, it would be unusual knee has a regular ache and on some occagoing issues you describe while ensuring opfor arthritis to be at the root of this cracking sions has completely locked out. One side timal joint and muscle health as you gather — and since you have had recent bodily of my upper body is recovering from a retrauma with particular impact on the muscles decades. The physical trauma you have uncent trauma which involved a lot of musdergone will take much of your time and paand tendons, it is highly likely that injury cle inflammation and tendonitis. tience as part of the healing process. and tension are key factors. The inflammaI’m currently taking a supplement with

Megan puts the spotlight on:

C

HINESE folklore tells of a black dragon (Oolong) which coiled itself around the tea plant when the first brew of oolong tea was served by a tea grower to one of his neighbours. Since the tea tasted so wonderful, it was named after the black dragon.

Whether or not you enjoy old tales of dragons, it is almost certain you will enjoy experiencing oolong tea, also known as wulong. Even better, this tea type is being hailed as a miracle brew by celebrities who are embracing its delicate and intoxicating flavour.

Why? Because it not only tastes

Feelgood

divine, it tones the skin, aids in weight management, improves digestion, and is soothing for irritated and sensitive skin types. And there’s more: a Japanese study found that it reduces cholesterol after a month of regular drinking.

Popular in Asia for centuries, oolong is a partially fermented tea, which is quite a complex process.

Black tea is a fully fermented tea, and green tea is unfermented.

The degree of fermentation in processing oolong determines the lightness and strength of the final flavour.

The three major production areas for quality oolong are the GuangDong and Fujian provinces of China, and Taiwan. Oolong can appear bead-like, with tightly twisted and twirled leaves, which yield a softer, more floral fragrance and flavour or as long strips,

Oolong tea which have a stronger, more fruity fragrance and flavour.

The Taiwanese oolong teas tend to be greener in colour and lighter in taste.

The dry tea is quite strong, but you only need a small amount per cup — often referred to as a skinny teaspoonful. The leaves are so tightly twisted and twirled that you will be surprised by how large they actually are as they unfurl. Make two to three infusions with the leaves, as it improves on subsequent infusing. This also applies to the strip-shaped oolong, such as Dan Hong Pao, and WuYi. ■ Stockists of oolong teas include: Organic Flower Power (www.organicflowerpower.ie; 01-8828954) House of Tea (www.houseoftea.ie; 01-8590361)

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2010

ONE TO WATCH Women, Food and God, by Geneen Roth, Scribner, Simon & Schuster WE eat to live, but sometimes we eat to stuff down feelings of frustration, anger and self-hate. And as the pounds pile on, a vicious cycle of eating and self-hate can begin.

Teacher and author Geneen Roth insists the solution lies in kindness not hatred — or another diet.

“To change your body you must first understand that which is shaping it.

Not fight it. Not force it.

Not deprive it. Not shame it. Not do anything but accept and — yes, understand it,” writes Roth in her compelling book on dealing with food addiction.

Oprah, who has publicly battled with her weight, has endorsed Roth’s latest book, saying it has changed the way she sees food — for good.

Irene Feighan

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Feelgood

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2010