Feelgood 30-04-2010

Zone:XH

XH - V1

Feelgood

Friday, April 30, 2010

Hooked on getting hitched?

Never mind the sparkly ring, it’s finding Mr Right that counts: 8,9 DEEP URGE

WHEN PULLING YOUR HAIR IS A LIFE-THREATENING DISORDER: 4,5

BREAKING FREE

WOMAN TRAPPED IN A MAN’S BODY TELLS HER STORY: 6

HEALTH TO GO

DR PIXIE MCKENNA’S NEW HANDBAG BOOK FOR WOMEN: 11

Picture: iStock

TERAPROOF:User:jaycarcioneDate:28/04/2010Time:17:28:39Edition:30/04/2010FeelgoodXH3004Page:1

TERAPROOF:User:margaretjenningsDate:28/04/2010Time:16:44:38Edition:30/04/2010FeelgoodXH3004Page:2

Zone:XH

2

XH - V1

A new report shows our unconscious mind is far from resting when we sleep, Arlene Harris finds out why Kate O’Reilly WHAT’S ON ■ ANGEL HEALING: Since last year Joan Buckley of Lily Holistic Centre in Passage West, Co Cork has been giving a free distance angel healing session on the first Tuesday of the month. You just lie quietly for an hour wherever you are and receive the energy, says Ms Buckley. The healing is available to anyone who would like to participate. For more information and to sign up for the next healing visit www.lilyholistic.com/freeHealing.html or contact Ms Buckley at 087-6749221.

■ DYSLEXIA COURSE: The Dyslexia Association of Ireland (DAI) is organising a one-day course for parents on dyslexia on Saturday, May 8 in the Radisson Hotel, Cork Airport. Topics covered will include understanding dyslexia, understanding the assessment report, assessing learning supports and Irish exemption etc. The fee per parent is F60 for DAI members and F85 for non-members. A booking form is available on the DAI website www.dyslexia.ie or call 01-6790276.

■ DUBLIN CYCLE: The Dublin-based Willow Wheelers Cycling Club will complete their 21st 100-mile charity cycle this Sunday, between Blackrock, Co Dublin and Kinnegad, Co Westmeath.

The club, which is part of Willow Park school, the junior school of Blackrock College, has raised over F1.3 million for projects in Africa and South America.

Anyone who wants to participate can register on the day from 7.45am in the car park of Blackrock College. Cyclists interested in doing part of the cycle can join up at NUI Maynooth at 5pm. For further information on the event or sponsoring a cyclist, log on to www.willowwheelers.ie ■ ENDOMETRIOSIS SUPPORT: If you have endometriosis and would like to meet other women who are going through experiences similar to yours, the Endometriosis Association of Ireland are holding a support group meeting at the Prince of Wales Hotel, Church Street, Athlone, Co Westmeath on Saturday May 8 from 2.30 to 5pm.

Partners, friends and family members are also welcome. More information is available at www.endo.ie, by email info@endo.ie, or phone 086-3203855.

■ HEART CLINIC: The Irish Heart Foundation will hold free blood pressure and cholesterol testing clinics at the Irish Heart Foundation Office, 42 Penrose Wharf, Cork from 10am-12pm next Tuesday and in Midleton at the Family Resource Centre on Wednesday from 2.30-4pm. For details call 021-4505822 or if you have questions about stroke or heart disease you can contact their helpline, at 1890 432 787.

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

Don’t skip the kip

A

FTER a hard day’s work, there is nothing nicer than a good night’s kip. You can forget all about the stresses and strains of the office or classroom and drift into oblivion.

But according to a new report, our unconscious mind is far from resting. In fact when we are dreaming, we are assimilating and making sense of the new information we learned during the day and, upon waking, are likely to perform better than we did before sleeping.

The US study involved a group of volunteers who had been asked to memorise the layout of a computer maze so they could be tested at a later time. Some of the group were allowed to take a nap and remembered dreaming about the maze. Later, when the group returned to the virtual puzzle, the dreamers found their way around the screen quicker than those who had remained awake.

Dr Erin Wamsley of Harvard Medical School — one of the authors of the paper — says the unconscious brain works on things that it deems to be important.

Speaking in the medical journal Cell Biology, Dr Wamsley says: “Every day we are gathering and encountering tremendous amounts of information and new experiences — it would seem that our dreams are asking the question: ‘how do I use this information to inform my life?’”.

But occupational psychologist, Lynne Forrest of The Well at Work isn’t con-

SLEEPING BEAUTY: A US study claims a nap helps to improve our memory.

Picture: Getty Images

vinced. “There are so many factors which could affect your performance at work or study,” she says. “Perhaps the people who

weren’t allowed to nap were simply more tired than their counterparts and therefore slower at completing the maze.”

Forrest believes that although dreaming may be of some benefit to performance, the evidence isn’t conclusive.

“I don’t believe dreaming is a video recall,” she says. “To my knowledge, it is the mind’s way of processing the experiences which happen to us throughout the day.

“And rather than studying hard before getting into bed, it would be far more beneficial to switch off and fall asleep feeling calm and relaxed — this will ensure a good night’s rest which in turn should make people perform better the following day.”

Psychologist John Deely of Pinpoint says we don’t have to be asleep to maximise our learning power — using different parts of the brain is key to restoring information.

“It is not so much about sleeping but the relevant brain wave,” he explains. “To think creatively, your brain needs to get into a lower frequency — the more relaxed “alpha” state which we are usually in during daily, repetitive activities such as having a shower, walking, or driving along a motorway. And there are techniques for inducing an alpha state, such as listening to relaxing music, taking a deep breath or closing your eyes to visualise positive images.”

For more information visit www.thewellatwork.ie and www.pinpoint-dublin.com

HEALTH NOTES 1,000 adults, conducted at the University of California, found those who eat more than a bar a week are less happy than those who only eat chocolate now and again.

THE Irish Heart Foundation, Safefood and the HSE have joined together for Happy Heart Eat Out month which will run throughout June in hundreds of participating restaurants, workplaces and communities across Ireland. Themed ‘For a Happy Heart, Think Small’, the campaign aims to raise awareness of portion sizes when eating out.

Participating restaurants, cafés and workplace canteens will offer additional healthy options during the month — plenty of fruit and vegetables and meals that are low in fat/sugar/salt and rich in fibre. A new recipe booklet incorporating tasty, healthy recipes is also being developed and will be available in June free of charge. Restaurants wishing to participate should contact www.irishheart.ie.

AN innovative design produced by two west of Ireland men — a clever combination of a kettle and a mug called the Kug — took top prize at the first annual Arthritis Ireland Easy To Use Design Awards. The awards were set up following research into the day-to-day difficulties faced by people living with rheumatoid arthritis, which showed that three in four found cleaning and household chores ‘somewhat’ or ‘very ‘ difficult, with similar assessments given to tasks such as dressing and cooking. The Kug eliminates the need for a kettle, which because of its design and weight is impractical for use for people living with arthritis. For

A LEG-UP: Sarah McGovern helps to launch the Flora Women’s Mini Marathon in aid of the Mater Breast Cancer Appeal.

Picture:Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland

more info, visit www.arthritisireland.ie.

YOU might swear by chocolate as a mood-booster but US-based scientists have found people who regularly eat it are more prone to depression. The study of almost

THE Mater Breast Cancer Appeal is asking women to run on behalf of BreastHealthMater in the June mini-marathon in Dublin.

The organisation hopes to raise funds to develop their Family Risk Assessment Programme, an undertaking that will include employing an on-site genetic counsellor.

They also hope to purchase a new Breast MRI Coil to help with early detection of breast cancer. www.materfoundation.ie

FAMILY members who care for relatives with dementia, but who have no formal training, often experience overwhelming stress that can lead to breakdowns or depression, the results of a new American study indicates. Lead researcher, Professor Steven Zarit of Pennsylvania State University, pointed out that the majority of caregivers live at home, with little or no help. “The family has to pay the physical, emotional and financial cost of the caring, which can be staggering.

When the caregiver gets overwhelmed, it raises the probability of a breakdown,” said Zarit, whose previous research found that family meetings, which enlist the support of extended family, can improve carer wellbeing.

Helen O’Callaghan

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

Feelgood

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2010

TERAPROOF:User:GREGMCCANNDate:28/04/2010Time:15:19:44Edition:30/04/2010FeelgoodXH3004Page:3

Zone:XH

3

XH - V1

THE SHAPE I'M IN

RACHEL KAVANAGH

Juggling roles RACHEL KAVANAGH was Ann Hastings in The Tudors and Lauren McAleer in RTÉ’s Fair City. On May 6, the daughter of Irish acting legend John Kavanagh, will host a masterclass in acting as part of The Coca-Cola Cinemagic International Film and Television Festival for Young People. (For full details see www.cinemagic.ie).

“I’m going to concentrate on the realities of acting and tell those attending not to give up everything they’ve worked for on a whim. Acting’s a very hard job — it’s a long road and the chances of making it to superstar level are like winning the Lotto,” says the 26-year-old, who has been working on a 20-minute short, My Happiness, for the Galway Film Festival.

“I was collected for work at 6.30am yesterday and dropped back home at 11.30pm. I spent the day standing in a graveyard, trying to get a five-year-old to say his lines. So acting does involve long and tiring days. You need another career focus in case it doesn’t work out.”

Brought up in Terenure, Rachel studied business at Trinity College and has developed her own natural tanning cosmetic range. She’s been seeing boyfriend Shane for three years. “He’s in business,” she says. “I wouldn’t go out with another actor.”

What shape are you in?

I’m sitting in my gym gear at the moment. I do Power Plate classes and I’ve just come back from those. I try to work out at least twice a week — I get terrible guilty if I don’t do that.

Do you have any health concerns?

I’m allergic to gluten. I have a lot of digestive problems. Since the age of eight, I get terrible cramps and I get the worst migraines too — it all comes from my allergy to wheat.

What are your healthiest eating habits?

I’m a vegetarian and if I’m at home I don’t eat lactose or gluten, so my diet’s pretty limited. Breakfast is brown Rice Krispies and lactose free milk. I have wheat-free pasta nearly every night and I like toasted pine nuts, salads and goat’s cheese.

What’s your guiltiest pleasure?

Anything that has wheat in it — you crave what you’re not allowed. I crave pizza.

Ladies Style Workshop Never again say, “I’ve nothing to wear”!

What’s the best book you’ve read recently?

Let The Great World Spin by Colum McCann. I found it hard to get into but it was a really intriguing book.

Discover the secrets of style in JUST ONE DAY at a Style By Caroline Ladies Style Workshop ! · Dressing for your body shape · Choosing colours that flatter · Wardrobe & shopping advice · Shopping advice · Top-to-toe grooming · Skincare & make-up

When did you last cry?

Yesterday while filming a graveyard scene.

Upcoming Classes

book club with four other girls and we always cook dinner on book club night.

What’s your favourite smell?

The smell of my niece, Livia. She’s only 18 months but she’s the first grandchild and we all obsess about her.

What would you change about your appearance?

My skin — I’ve battled with bad skin since I was 13.

I’ve spent a fortune trying to get rid of uneven pigment and scars from acne. And it’s starting to get where I want it now.

What trait do you least like in others?

Meanness — people who are always counting the pennies.

What trait do you least like in yourself?

I wish I could delegate. As an entrepreneur, I never think anybody can do the job as well as I can.

Do you pray?

I find myself turning to a higher power in times of need — that higher power is not a religion though.

What would cheer up your day?

Seeing my boyfriend at the end of the day and being around my little King Charles.

Dunraven Arms Hotel Adare, Co. Limerick Sat. 8th May, 2010 • 10am - 5pm Springfort Hall Hotel Mallow, Co. Cork Sat. 15th May, 2010 • 10am - 5pm

Booking & Enquiries

Courses cost €150pp (incl. tuition, materials and lunch) Book securely on www.stylebycaroline.ie or ring 087-8365230

Great Benefits

Body Confidence: Look great; feel great Skills for Life: Know what suits & what to avoid in future Learning Tools: Take home a comprehensive style pack Save Money: Learn to ‘shop smart’ & avoid ‘bad buys’

Find ‘Style By Caroline’ on Facebook

Helen O’Callaghan

�������

���� �� ��� ����� ��� ��������

������ ������ ������� ������� ������ �������� ������� ���� ������� ��� �� ��������� ��� ����

TOUGH ROAD: Acting is a very hard job, says Rachel Kavanagh. “The chances of making it to superstar level are like winning the Lotto.”

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

Oprah Winfrey — I just love her. I think she should be US president. I’d alos invite Barak Obama and his wife Michelle. I think they’re all good strong people who want Picture: Marc O'Sullivan to make a difference and they seem to be good fun too.

What would keep you awake?

I don’t sleep very well at all. I go to bed early and get up early. I sleep heavily in the early hours of the morning but the pressure of having my own business and thoughts of all the things I didn’t do during the day come to me in the middle of the night.

How do you relax?

I find it hard to relax. I find there’s always something to do. Because I do a lot of business with the US, I find even if I’m watching TV in the night, I’m getting emails that I’ve got to answer. I love reading though — I’m in a

Feelgood

��������

��

������

�� ��� � � � � �� ���� �� ���� ����� �������� FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2010

TERAPROOF:User:margaretjenningsDate:28/04/2010Time:16:38:11Edition:30/04/2010FeelgoodXH3004Page:4

Zone:XH

4

XH - V1

What causes people to tug at and swallow their own hair? Michelle McDonagh

5

XH - V1

explores the potentially fatal condition, Trich, and hears one sufferer’s story

When the pull is too much W

BEYOND NORMAL: Most humans pull, pluck and pick at their hair, skin and nails in small amounts, but when these behaviours become excessive they are considered disorders. Picture: Getty Images

HEN Jenny was five years old, she had an operation to remove a huge hairball from her stomach after she became seriously ill.

Her mother had been bringing her in and out of hospital for months, but nobody could figure out what was making the child so sick until during one stay, she passed a clump of hair.

“I had been pulling my hair out and eating it. I was even eating my doll’s hair and I was sick an awful lot as a child. When I was five, I was rushed to theatre to have an operation to remove a hairball the size of a fox’s tail from my stomach and my mother was told to kiss me good-bye,” she recalls.

Fortunately, Jenny survived the surgery which was the first of its kind in the country but, on the same day, a young girl in England died on the operating table while undergoing a similar operation.

Jenny has been diagnosed with a little known disorder called trichotillomania, which is known as Trich or TTM. While the disorder — now classified an obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) — has been known in medical circles, it is often not discussed or reported due to the shame and embarrassment that surrounds it.

Most humans pull, pluck and pick at their hair, skin and nails in small amounts, but when these behaviours become excessive they are considered disorders. Research into the causes of Trich is still in the early stages, but preliminary evidence indicates that it is a neuro-biological disorder and that genetics may play a role in its development.

Although Jenny is happy to talk about her condition to try and raise awareness, she does not want her full name or photograph used for fear she and her young daughter, who also has the disorder, will be ridiculed.

People who have Trich pull out hair from their scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows or other parts of the body, often resulting in noticeable bald patches or they may have no eyelashes. It is

I had been pulling my hair out and eating it. I was even eating my doll’s hair and I was sick an awful lot as a child. When I was five, I was rushed to theatre to have an operation to remove a hairball the size of a fox’s tail from my stomach Feelgood

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2010

estimated that Trich affects one to two people in every 100 and appears to affect more women than men.

Some people, like Jenny eat the hair that they pull out, which can lead to serious health problems as the body cannot digest hair. There is not a lot known at this point about the causes, but patients respond to medication and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in many cases.

Jenny had appeared to grow out of the condition after her close call as a child but the compulsion to pull her hair returned with a vengeance when she was pregnant with her second child. “When I was pregnant with Katy, I pulled my hair to bits. I was old enough at this stage to know not to put it into my mouth but I pulled it out strand by strand until it got to the stage that I had to shave my head. I went to different doctors, psychiatrists and hospitals but I got no help at all until I got in touch with OCD Ireland and was started on CBT.” These days, Jenny has her Trich fairly well under control, but there are times when she is anxious or stressed that she does feels a strong urge to pull her hair. She uses the techniques she has learnt over the years to try and distract herself from the behaviour and resist the urge.

Professor James Lucey, consultant psychiatrist at St Patrick’s University Hospital in Dublin points out serious cases like Jenny’s are very rare, but Trich patients can get very sick if they swallow a lot of hair.

“Hair pulling usually occurs daily and can occupy several hours of a day or more. People commonly attempt to conceal their hair loss with creative hair styles, wigs, makeup, false eyelashes and the constant use of bandanas and scarves. Otherwise, they are usually very functioning, bright attractive professional women with a bald patch,” he explains.

Many people present for treatment for Trich after a long period of avoiding dating or relationships, explains Dr Lucey, and many also avoid sports, swimming, outdoor activities and windy activities, so the disorder can have quite an impact on lifestyle.

Some patients seek out coarser or thicker hair and even pubic hair. Some bite off the hair bulbs or rub the hair in their mouth and some even use tweezers to pull out the hair.

The vast majority report some episodes where they are completely unaware that they are pulling their hair and may be on the phone or the computer, watching TV or reading in bed at the same time.

Most people with Trich present for treatment at specialist referral centres like St Patrick’s with a minimum of 10 years experience with the disorder, according to Professor Lucey, who points out that it is far from overdiagnosed or overmedicated and is a condition that has been neglected for a long time.

“The problem is that people with Trich tend not to access services because it’s a hidden problem,” he says. “The real aim is to get people to feel okay about looking for help, to open up avenues to referral and to take away

Feelgood

stigma. This is not a shameful inexplicable, condition but an explainable, understandable disorder that can be treated.”

Research suggests that the optimum treatment for Trich is cognitive behavioural therapy either on its own or combined with an antidepressant from the SSRI (Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) family.

Consulting psychologist Leslie Shoemaker, an adviser with OCD Ireland says she has met people who have to wear wigs or have no eyebrows or eyelashes at all because they have pulled out so much of their hair.

Shoemaker explains people with Trich report hair pulling makes them feel relaxed and eases anxiety and stress. It has been discovered that there is genetic involvement in at least 5% of cases but she highlights the need for more research to help understand the condition.

“I want to let people know that there is hope and they can get help for their condition. If you are getting your hair cut, it’s okay to say to the hairdresser that you have alopecia because at least they will understand this. I have heard some horror stories about people with Trich getting lectures from hairdressers about pulling their hair out which can put them off ever going to get their hair cut again.”

I have heard some horror stories about people with Trich getting lectures from hairdressers about pulling their hair out which can put them off ever going to get their hair cut again — Leslie Shoemaker

■ The OCD Ireland website (www.ocdireland.org) provides links to organisations regarding CBT therapists and psychiatrists. OCD Ireland is a national organisation for people with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and the related disorders of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and trichotillomania.

■ OCD Ireland has started a support group for sufferers of Trich, the purpose of which is to offer support and information in confidential and non-judgemental surroundings. The group meets every second Tuesday of the month at the Montrose Hotel, Donnybrook, Dublin.

■ Tips to use when the urge is felt ■ TIPS for management of the urge to pull hair: ■ Place a little bit of transparent micro-pore tape (available in pharmacies) on both thumbnails to create a barrier to reduce the tactile sensation.

■ Keep barrier tools available where needed — the hotspots round your house, office, car, anywhere you are likely to pull.

■ Wear gloves if you pull when driving.

■ Put a barrier cream like Vaseline on brows or target hotspots to reduce grip.

■ Invest in some massage tools such as a head massager, hand/foot massager or back scratcher.

■ Band aids and gloves are useful barrier tools.

■ Occupy hands with latex stretchy toys, or plastic or wooden spiky stress toys.

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2010

■ Plastic or wood coffee stirrers in the mouth offer a diversion.

■ Try ice chips in the mouth but be careful of your teeth. This is also good for pressing onto an inflamed or itchy spot that is drawing your hand to pull.

■ If inflammation, itching or localised skin irritation continues, see your doctor, a dermatologist or your local chemist and ask about topical steroid soothing lotions, shampoos, etc.

TERAPROOF:User:margaretjenningsDate:28/04/2010Time:15:55:21Edition:30/04/2010FeelgoodXH3004Page:6

Zone:XH

6

XH - V1

Sara-Jane Cromwell felt ‘trapped’ in a male body, says Helen O’Callaghan

I’m my own woman A

S a child, Sara-Jane Cromwell hated playing the way boys played. She remembers, in adolescence, wondering why she wasn’t growing breasts, why she didn’t get her period. At 21, she married and her sense of being in the wrong body intensified. Eight years ago, a medical team diagnosed gender identity disorder (GID) — Sara-Jane was a female born in a male body.

“My reaction was euphoric — wow! It was like winning the lotto, the pools, everything,” says Sara-Jane, who is in her late 40s.

Since I first met Sara-Jane, five years ago, she has changed her name by deed poll, she has gone from a size 26 to a size 14 and she has a new hairstyle. She has annulled her marriage and stepped bravely into the life she has always wanted to live — as a woman.

“I’ve given myself the freedom to start my life over, without bitterness or anger.”

Though she has been on hormonal treatments — anti-androgens and oestrogen — she has not had gender reassignment surgery (GRS), a process that involves a cluster of surgeries, including penectomy (removal of penis), orchidectomy (removal of testes), clitoroplasty (construction of clitoris), breast augmentation, nose re-shaping and corrective surgeries, such as facial remodelling and hair transplants.

“GRS is very difficult, so the last thing you want when going through it is to be carrying any baggage. I’ve put it on hold and am hoping to do it next year. Right now, I’m focusing on promoting awareness of GID,” she says. She has written a book, Wrong Body, Wrong Life, which chronicles the stages of living in the wrong body: from childhood to adulthood.

“I wrote the book, because there’s nothing in Ireland to explain the condition. A lot of what I’ve read is myth and nonsense.”

Evidence points to GID as a congenital neurobiological condition, says Sara-Jane. “It’s an inter-sex condition that leaves the individual with a psychological gender identity at odds with their physical sex/gender indicators. Terms like transsexual and transgender are completely inappropriate — they sexualise a condition that has nothing to do with sexuality,” she says.

But gender has implications for sexuality?

“No more than for anyone else,” says Sara-Jane. “Applying terms to GID like cross-dressing or transvestism is also inappropriate. GID has nothing whatever to do with fetishistic compulsions or lifestyle choice.”

She cites the rigorous process of diagnosis required before people with the condition are considered for treatment — diagnosis is made by a clinical psychologist/consultant psychiatrist, following a number of evaluations during which all possible alternative explanations are explored/ruled out.

“Every initial diagnosis must be confirmed by at least another specialist. This is essential, before hormone treatment commences. Once diagnosis is confirmed, a decision is made on whether to proceed with full GRS.” Sara-Jane, who is CEO of Gender Identity Disorder Ireland, says getting the name of the condition right has positive repercussions, ranging from making medics well-disposed to treating people to suicide prevention. An

Feelgood

GROWING PAINS: Even as a boy, Sara-Jane Cromwell was uncomfortable in her body, waiting for a period that never came. Picture:Dan Linehan Irish-based consultant told her of the difficulty he had getting his colleagues to engage with patients diagnosed with GID: “Their

objections seemed to stem from their misperceptions about GID as a lifestyle issue, rather than being medical in nature, so they felt

The facts about Gender Identity Disorder ■ People with GID don’t feel they psychologically match the gender they’re biologically born into, says clinical psychologist Dr James Kelly. “We suspect there’s some biological factor but we don’t have assessment tests.”

■ Diagnosis is by a series of interviews to determine whether the patient meets certain diagnostic criteria for the condition.

■ “Just because they meet the diagnostic criteria doesn’t mean they should go through a full transition,” says Kelly. “Their life circumstances mightn’t support a full transition. They might be married, have children or elderly parents. There might be occupational reasons. Some people pursue a part-time transition, whether at home or when they’re out of the country.”

■ A 2006 Irish study found the age at which most Irish people with GID present is approximately nine years older than in inter-

national studies, which — according to the study authors — “is likely to reflect the cultural barriers to personal acceptance of the diagnosis in Ireland”. However, the trend is changing a little, says Dr Kelly, who has well over 100 people present with GID at his clinic. “We’re making more strides in diagnosing early. We’re currently working with quite a few in the 17-19 age group.”

■ The full range of services from assessment/evaluation right through to supervised hormonal treatment by an endocrinologist is available through the HSE to people with GID. ■ Surgical options are considered after a person has lived the Real Life Experience (RLE), where they’re required to change their social gender role for a period of at least two years.

■ Full GRS is not available here. The HSE can apply for people to be treated abroad.

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2010

provision of hormone treatments to be inappropriate,” she says.

GID occurs in one of about 30 different inter-sex conditions that affect five in every 1,000 babies. And about one in 2,000 babies have GID. Accompanying these statistics is a more sobering one — in the US, people with GID are four times more likely to commit suicide. “We need to have a more open conversation about this subject. We need to make it safe for people to seek help. If you know your family is likely to be prejudiced, you’re unlikely to talk about having GID, ” she says.

Yet, says Sara-Jane, positive changes have occurred in Ireland for people with the disorder. They have the legal right to change their passport. They’re protected under the Equal Status Act, 2004, and under the Employment Equality Act. “The HSE and Department of Health and Children recognise GID as a clinically diagnosable and treatable condition,” says Sara-Jane. But why isn’t GRS available here? she asks. “Even countries like Iran have facilities in place to allow people to complete gender re-assignment.”

Launching her book next month, Sara-Jane has a hopeful message. “If you trust people with your truth, the vast majority will respond in a very human and supportive way.”

■ Wrong Body, Wrong Life, by Sara-Jane Cromwell, costs F14.99 and will be launched at Cork City Hall on Thursday, May 6 at 5pm.

TERAPROOF:User:GREGMCCANNDate:28/04/2010Time:15:26:48Edition:30/04/2010FeelgoodXH3004Page:7

Zone:XH

7

XH - V1

People we see as ‘vulnerable’ are playing out an unconscious strategy to protect themselves

Hiding from self

The

Feel Good Personals FOR COST EFFECTIVE ADVERTISING

Phone: NIAMH KELLY Tel. 021-4802215 Faxx 021-4273846 niamh.kelly@examiner.ie

LIFE IMPROVEMENT DAY One Day Workshop

Stress Management, Goal Setting Confidence Coaching, Relaxation with NLP Life Coach, Laurie Walsh Saturday 15th May 9.30 - 5.00 Oikoseen House, Midleton Cost €95, including lunch Enquiries/Book your place 087-7661141 laurie@restyleyourlife.ie www.restyleyourlife.ie

FEELGOOD

A DIFFERENT VIEW ON LIFESTYLE

I

Your guide to fitness, health, happiness and lifestyle.

Great writers and mentors. Where you come first.

Tony Humphreys

HESITATE to use the word ‘vulnerability’ because it is generally associated with weakness and helplessness. Nevertheless, some individuals describe themselves as ‘vulnerable’ most probably knowing that others will perceive them as weak, dependent and not able to stand on their own two feet.

However, there is a wonderful wisdom and strength to this unconscious strategy — making it far from being weak — in that it powerfully places the responsibility on others to ‘look after’ the person. As creative, ingenious and unique human beings, I believe we are never weak, but in the face of threats to our wellbeing, we unconsciously form protective strategies.

It is important to understand that these protectors are formed unconsciously and it only when we encounter the emotional, social and intellectual safety to be authentic that we will allow such knowledge to rise to consciousness, make new choices and take alternative and progressive actions.

Is what I’m saying true? Can we actually believe that people’s passivity, anxiety, helplessness, manipulativeness, emotional and physical withdrawal and hypersensitivity are powers beyond measure? Many people in the caring professions also refer to such individuals as being vulnerable and miss a key point: these people have found the best possible means of surviving the defensive behaviours of significant individuals in their lives, as a child — mother, father, sibling, teacher, grandparent, peer — and as an adult — mother, father, sibling, employer, friend, lover, partner.

Whether it is a professional helper or another person who labels the person as ‘vulnerable’, they too do so unconsciously, and thereby, their labelling has the effect of reinforcing the protectors of that person. And when one protector meets another, the level of defensiveness will inevitably increase.

However, were the observer to notice and affirm the creativity and power of the protective behaviour, the person seeking help, rather than encountering further threats, would experience emotional, social and intellectual safety.

In experiencing such safe holdings, the person who is undoubtedly suffering may now allow what is unconscious to rise to consciousness so that authentic rather than further protective action can be taken.

For example, a person who has asthma, in the embrace of unconditional love, may allow consciousness to emerge of how she was rarely, if ever, allowed to breathe her own life and had always felt fearful and constricted by the perfectionism and lack of warmth by her mother.

The new choices to be made are to cut the restrictive ties with her mother, to be determined to live her own life and to love herself in the ways, sadly, that her mother was not in a place to offer.

What is interesting is that when it comes to describing a person who is vicious, aggressive, dominating, controlling, arrogant and authoritarian, we do not use the term ‘vulnerable’, even though the person is every bit as fearful.

This is equally clever because aggressive-type responses are more obviously threatening to our presence and au-

Feelgood

Every Friday.

Picture: iStock

When it comes to describing a person who is vicious, aggressive, dominating, controlling, arrogant and authoritarian, we do not use the term ‘vulnerable’, even though the person is just as fearful

thentic actions than the more passive type responses that fall under the motivated ‘misnomer’ of ‘vulnerable.’

The labels we put on those who are aggressive are counter-aggressive in nature, the hope being that these will stop the person in their violating tracks and, thereby, reduce the threats to our wellbeing. However, individuals who are aggressive and violent equally need our understanding and compassion because they too are hiding their wholeness and certain aspects of self-expression.

In examining any human behaviour, unless a person is in a heightened state of consciousness, what you see and hear is not what you need ‘to get’ — on the contrary, what you don’t see is what needs to be uncovered.

Protective responses are designed to cover up what you dare not show. Uncovering what is hidden is only possible when unconditional love and belief in the person is present. This is as true in understanding ourselves as it is in the understanding of another.

The word ‘understand’ when hyphenated — under-stand — indicates the necessity to get below the ‘stand’ (the protective behaviour) of self or another. Responding to the face value of what you or another says or does means pushes further into the darkness what needs to come to consciousness. Such defensive responding is common in most homes, classrooms, workplaces, the Dáil and churches.

We are complex beings, powerful in guarding the unique diamond of Self and we will only allow spontaneous and authentic expression of our true and individual nature where there is the persistent presence of safe holdings.

Dr Tony Humphreys practises as a clinical psychologist and is author of several books on practical psychology, including The Compassionate Intentions of Illness which is co-authored with Helen Ruddle

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2010

A UNIQUE GIFT

A PERSONA PERSONALISED IRISH EXA EXAMINER FRONT PPA AGE

���� ����� ��� ������� ���� �� ������ ����

�������� ���� ������� �������� �� �������� � ������������ ������ ����� ���� ���� ��� ����� �������� ���������� �������� ���� ������� ��� ������� ���� �� �������� ���� ��� ����� ���� ���� ���� ��� ������ ���� � ������ ������� ������� �� �������� ��� �������� ���� �� ��������� ������������ ����������� ��� ���������

������ �� � �������� �� �� ������ ������ ���� ��� ����� �� ������ ���� ���� �� ���������� ���� ������� ������ ��� ������� �� ��� ������� � ������ ������������������� ����� ��� ���������� ������ �� �� �� ��� ���������� �� ��� ����� �������� �� ������ �� ������ ��� ������� �� ������� �� ����� ���������� ��� ������������ ������� ����� ����� �� ���� ��� ������������ ��������� �������� ��� ������ ��������� �� ����� ���� ������ �� ���� ����

� ��������� ���� ����� ��

TERAPROOF:User:jaycarcioneDate:28/04/2010Time:17:27:10Edition:30/04/2010FeelgoodXH3004Page:8

Zone:XH

8

9

XH - V3

It’s common to get cold feet before walking down the aisle but many people ignore serious doubts only to regret it later, writes Helen O’Callaghan

Your heart is set on marriage?

L

ISA O’HARA has met them — people who knew walking up the aisle, that they shouldn’t be marrying the person at the other end but they went ahead and did it anyway.

“They did it because they thought marriage would change things. Or they were too afraid to hurt their partner by calling it off at the last minute. Within a year, the magnitude of their mistake hits them. They feel huge shame. They feel they were weak-willed and ask ‘why didn’t I have the courage of my convictions?’” says the Dublin-based relationship counsellor.

Galway psychotherapist Josephine O’Halloran has met them too — women who didn’t heed a sixth sense that told them they were marrying Mr Wrong. “They feared not meeting anyone else. They felt ‘he ticks the boxes, he’ll treat me well’. Then something big happens — one or other partner has an affair — or a whole load of small things: everything about the person irritates them. He’s untidy/mean with money/not very good in family groups — and it all falls apart.”

According to the 2006 census, 200,000 Irish adults have experienced marriage breakdown. And recent ESRI research found couples are now as much as 30% more likely to split after the birth of their first child. So, lest you become a statistic down the line, you need to know you’ve met Mr Right before saying ‘I Do’.

But how do you know? “You don’t,” says O’Hara. “Even in the happiest relationship, approaching your wedding, you might ask: ‘Am I doing the right thing?’ Life’s very dynamic. It changes. Your hope is that, as a couple, you’ll be able to negotiate those changes.”

Recognising Mr Right doesn’t run to any strict formula — women who spoke to Feelgood for this article cited anything from their partner having a great sense of humour to making them feel accepted. Marie*, now in her mid-30s, married her husband one year after meeting him “because I couldn’t imagine not being with him — we laughed a lot, he was somebody I felt very safe with, there was no judgement”.

Niamh, 42, who met and married her husband 20 years ago, says he had a softness she hadn’t met in other men. “We connected on a soul level. He had a gentleness, which he’d see as a weakness, but I wouldn’t change it.

We got married within the year because I got pregnant. I was on cloud nine. I remember thinking if everybody else in the world disappeared, I wouldn’t care.”

Rose, 28, who met her husband on an internet dating site, knew he was the one because “I could just feel it — as time went on, the knowing was reinforced by the fact that he regards as assets the aspects of my personality other men had seen as liabilities. I can be bossy and domineering whereas to him I am just a strong woman who knows my mind.”

But aren’t some doubts normal? And did

Picture: Getty Images

any of these women at any stage second-guess themselves? Rose, who was based in Dublin when she met her Dutch husband-to-be, said he’d been living at home with his parents until they started living together. “I was worried moving in with me would be too much change for him. But he was so graceful about the whole thing. I was reassured when I saw he could weather all this change.”

Niamh recalls confiding in a relative that the man she’d fallen in love with had dabbled with drugs. “She warned me against marrying him. I was annoyed. I felt, despite her profession — as an addiction counsellor —

she was suggesting there was no hope for people with addictions. She was my only family support at the time and I wanted her on my side,” she says, adding that drugs have never been a problem in their marriage, though the couple have talked about how they both have addictive personalities.

When Sinead met the man she’d eventually marry at 25, she never looked back but there were times when she wanted to. He was seven years younger. Their families and backgrounds were very different. “There were so many outside entities screaming about how wrong we were. And yet, on a soul level I

knew it was right. We’ve been together over 14 years and he still impresses me, surprises me.”

Wedding planner Rosemarie Meleady has had clients ring to say they’re calling off the ceremony. Meleady has a contingency plan for such emergencies. “At the outset, I always take the phone number of the bridesmaid and best man, precisely in case I get that phone call saying the whole thing’s off. I then phone the people closest to the couple and ask ‘Listen, is this really finished or is it just a row?’ I’ve had three such situations in 10 years,” says Meleady, who never cancels venues or other wedding arrangements until at least a week post-break-up.

That not all engagements culminate in a trip down the aisle is borne out by British pre-marriage counselling data, which finds one in five engagements ends in tears. But a pre-wedding commitment crisis isn’t necessarily a bad omen. Experts say romantic relationships typically go through four stages: the initial honeymoon period, a ‘reality bites’ time, a power-struggle and ‘a need to change’.

In Ireland, the number of cohabiting couples increased by almost 400% between 1996 and 2006, so if or when such couples eventually decide to marry, they’re more likely to be marrying in the ‘power-struggle’ or ‘need-to-change’ phase. “This can lead to all sorts of crises that don’t necessarily mean the end’s nigh.

What it means is the relationship needs some work — best done before either party says ‘I do’,” says British-based pre-marriage counsellor Dr Joe Mannion.

O’Hara has counselled women who are engaged but crippled with doubts about tying the knot. “They love their partner but they have all this uncertainty. Maybe their parents were separated or there are issues between them, which they’re afraid of addressing lest they lose their partner. They’ll often say their partner knows they’ve come for counselling, that he loves them and wants them to get their head sorted. The whole point is to get clarity around what the uncertainty’s about.”

British writer Kate Figes interviewed 100 couples about their relationships for her book, Couples: The Truth. She believes we’ve been “seduced by the fairytale that we should be able to find everything we need from just one person”. Instead, she says, the secret to successful marriage “lies in the duller but more reliable things like flexibility and honesty”.

O’Hara recommends asking some key questions before getting married. Is your partner easy to live with? Is sex good between you?

■ 2006 CENSUS: 200,000 IRISH ADULTS’ MARRIAGES HAVE BROKEN DOWN Feelgood

WISE WORDS: From top left, relationship counsellor Lisa O’Hara, psychotherapist Josephine O’Halloran and wedding planner Rosemarie Meleady.

Are you able to share your feelings and innermost thoughts with him/her? “What you have in common is the glue that binds the relationship together,” she says.

Jane, in her mid-50s, says she and her husband are “quite different” but not “about the major things that would be beyond fixing”.

“Our interests are different — when we go out, he prefers something active, like dancing, whereas I’m happy sitting watching a play.”

O’Hara says it’s the deep similarities that matter in a marriage. “A couple with similar values, morals, principles and attitudes are far more likely to work as a team — and when differences arise they negotiate them successfully.”

Irish rugby star Brian O’Driscoll — set to marry actress Amy Huberman this summer – spoke recently on RTÉ’s ‘Tonight With Craig Doyle’ about the couple’s pre-marriage course: “I’m genuinely glad we did it. I went in with an open mind and got a few things out of it.” But some couples come

There are women who didn’t heed their sixth sense that told them they were marrying Mr Wrong — and it all falls apart reluctantly to pre-marriage counselling, says Stephen Cummins, Accord’s director of marriage education.

“When you ask couples when they last spent any considerable time discussing their relationship, they say it’s more like a few minutes here and there. Couples don’t sit down on a Tuesday night when the TV’s bad and say ‘ok, let’s discuss our family of origin’ — yet this is an important issue because here are two individuals getting married from two different backgrounds.”

So what are the real deal-breakers, the red flags that shout no to saying ‘yes’? For Marie, it would have been “somebody who was into pubbing and drinking a lot”. Jane cites un-

faithfulness, while Niamh wouldn’t have accepted mental abuse from her partner.

O’Hara says deal-breakers vary among couples. “For some it’s infidelity, for others withholding financial information. In the end, what’s important is do you trust your partner.” O’Halloran warns against possessiveness.

“If he’s jealous of your friends, what’s his jealousy level going to be like when you have children?”

With international experts citing the first five years of marriage as a crucial make-or-break time, Accord is seeing an increase in couples seeking counselling in the first two to three years of married life. What brings them are the “myriad of issues that can

BEFORE YOU SAY ‘I DO’ A CASE of natural pre-wedding jitters or a sign something’s seriously wrong — how to tell the difference? Elizabeth Martyn, author of Before You Say ‘I Do’, recommends asking: ■ Do you love your partner as s/he is? Or are you hoping they’ll change post-marriage?

If so, prepare for a shock.

■ Having problems with loyalty, commitment or fidelity?

Alarm bells should be ringing.

Work through these issues.

■ Are your doubts just about the wedding or the marriage itself — and the person you’re marrying?

Relationship counsellor Lisa O’Hara says if you’re uncertain, tell your partner. “Explain you don’t know whether these are natural doubts or something more deep-rooted. Find one or two close friends you can trust, who’ll listen without giving advice. Find a trusted counsellor — this is a serious life issue.”

And if you do need to call it off, O’Hara recommends: ■ Be very clear about why you’re ending it. Otherwise, you’ll send mixed messages.

■ Realise this decision will re-

quire courage. You’ll meet protest — from partner, family, friends. Don’t be distracted by thoughts of the financial investment you’ve made or that you’re letting everyone down.

“Initially, you may get a negative reaction but most people are reasonable. They’ll eventually see you did what you felt was right,” says O’Hara.

■ When telling your partner, present the information as a statement. Keep it brief: ‘I’ve really thought long and hard about this. It just doesn’t feel the right fit for me because…’

come up for a couple” says Cummins, who confirms that Accord has seen a major increase in couples presenting with recession-related marriage difficulties. “Worrying about your job can have a big knock-on effect on your relationship. You’re distracted.

Your focus is other than on the relationship.

And job-loss may bring grief similar to bereavement — your depression, lack of energy, not wanting to face the day can all impinge on your relationship.”

Yet, in an era when it’s so easy to live together, why are couples continuing to marry?

(More than 22,000 marriages were registered here in 2008, up 7,000 since 1995). While Rose opted to live with her partner soon after she met him, marriage was always her intention. And while Niamh didn’t have a church wedding, a civil marriage was important. O’Hara believes marriage continues to be popular because couples see it as a symbol of security. “Women feel they’re protected, that their children will be protected.”

But she says it’s also because we’re still traditional. “Couples want to ritualise their commitment. I ask women: why marry?

They say: ‘Because I want to celebrate our relationship’.” *Other than the professionals mentioned, names have been changed to protect identity.

■ Visit www.accord.ie for info on pre-marriage courses.

■ Marriage & Relationship Counselling Service (www.mrcs.ie or 1890 380380) offers free two-hour counselling sessions to couples whose relationship has been affected by the recession.

■ IN 2008 MORE THAN 22,000 MARRIAGES REGISTERED HERE, UP 7,000 SINCE 1995 FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2010

Zone:XH

10

XH - V1

Q

Dr Niamh Houston

FAMILY

TERAPROOF:User:margaretjenningsDate:28/04/2010Time:16:55:21Edition:30/04/2010FeelgoodXH3004Page:10

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

MY son is due to sit his testosterone levels tested and will Leaving Certificate this treatment help?

June. The problem is he A. Some men believe that taking suffers terrible with testosterone medications will help hayfever from May them feel younger and more eneronwards every year. Is there anygetic as they age. It can be tempting thing we can do to prevent this hapto use testosterone therapy as the ulpening? He has taken anti-histimate anti-aging formula due to its tamines in the past, but doesn’t ability to increase muscle mass and seem to be responding as well as strength, improve memory, boost libefore. bido and decrease irritability.

A. Most of us look forward to sumBut it’s important that he also mer and spending more time outside. knows the risks of taking testosBut it is a tough time for children goterone, which include baldness, sleep ing through school exams, especially apnoea, breast enlargement, testicular if they’re suffering from hayfever. shrinkage and reduction in sperm Hay-fever is also sometimes called production. It can also stimulate “seasonal allergic rhinitis” because for growth of prostate cancer if it’s alsome children the problem is an allerready present. gy to grasses, and for others it’s particFrom around age 40, the body ular flowers or trees. produces less testosterone. For most If a child’s hayfever is worse in the men levels gradually lessen without spring, they’re probably allergic to causing any signs or symptoms. tree pollen, however if they suffer While it has been shown that more in summer then the likely cultestosterone therapy can restore levels prit is grass pollen. Some hayfever to that when younger, it isn’t clear if sufferers often have other allergy-redoing this or having a higher testoslated conditions such as asthma, and terone level can help men live may have difficulty sleeping due to longer. There’s also no guarantee blocked nasal passages or snoring. that taking testosterone therapy will These symptoms can result in a improve libido, memory or will rechild feeling constantly tired, and not sult in any other desired effects. able to concentrate on their studies Doctors usually prescribe testosand other everyday activities. To beterone for men who have very low gin, I would recommend that your levels of testosterone (hypogoson is assessed by his doctor. He or nadism). It is available to take via inshe will be able to make sure there are jections, patches or gels. no other problems present by asking A simple blood test can check the about the symptoms and doing a body’s level of testosterone. Most of physical examination. Blood tests and the testosterone in the blood is skin testing with a specialist can be bound to a protein called sex horhelpful in confirming exactly what mone binding globulin (SHBG). your son is allergic to, but does not “Free” testosterone can be checked POLLEN PEST: Hayfever sufferers usually find their always establish the triggers. when conditions that increase SHBG If a specific allergen is found, keep- symptoms are worse first thing in the morning and early levels are present, such as obesity or an evening, especially on days that have been warm and sunny. over-active thyroid gland. ing away from it will help, but many triggers cannot be completely avoided. Picture:Getty Images Testosterone levels are usually Your son could try a different checked in the case of infertility, erecqualified homeopath for further advice. non-sedative anihistamine such as cetirizine. tile dysfunction or osteoporosis. They are Hayfever sufferers usually find their sympTake the anti-histamines daily, not just on the also monitored to see if specific medications toms are worse first thing in the morning and days the symptoms are bad. Anti-histamines used for prostate cancer are working. early evening, especially on days that have work much better if taken throughout the Low levels of testosterone in a man can be been warm and sunny. Help reduce your son’s hay-fever season. Other conventional treatdue to testicular injury or slow development ments available include steroid nasal sprays like exposure to pollens by taking the following of testicles, liver disease, chronic alcohol use, Flixonase, which are safe to use regularly over precautions: keep windows closed at night so thyroid disease, or other long-term illnesses. the season. Check the label of any medication pollen doesn’t enter the house; smear Vaseline A high level of testosterone can be caused to make sure it is approved for use in children. around the inside of your child’s nose to trap by cancer of the testicles or adrenal glands. pollen and stop it being inhaled; use air filters It would also help if your son used a salt Taking medicines such as corticosteroids, to try and reduce pollen that’s floating around water or saline nasal rinse, which helps clear digoxin (heart medicine) or certain anout pollen in the nasal passageways and relieve the house; don’t let him play in fields or large ti-epilepsy drugs will interfere with testoscongestion. Any of these products are available grassy areas; wash face, hands, hair and change terone levels, and blood test results may not clothes when back indoors. over the counter from your pharmacist. be helpful in these cases.

Grazax, a tablet taken daily, is a form of imIt’s best if your partner discusses his conQ. Can you tell me about testosterone munotherapy or desensitisation and reduces cerns with his doctor. There may be other therapy? My partner is interested in this symptoms in people with a diagnosis of grass significant treatable conditions such as diaand seems to believe it will improve his enpollen allergy. betes or high blood pressure causing his Homeopathic nosodes can be given — see a ergy and libido. How can he have his symptoms.

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

G

Catherine Shanahan MUM’S WORLD Feelgood

ROUNDED by grit, ostensibly it looked like the ladies who love to lunch had bitten off more than they could chew.

Hightailing off to the Costa del Sol was all very well for a weekend but Marbella mid-week did not hold the same appeal.

Wardrobes were wearing thin — three outfits a day for the first three days seemed excessive in retrospect. But who could have predicted a volcano would prevent them from travelling home? Best ping the nanny and have her well-prepped to keep the show on the road. She knew where the iron was and had keys to the Land Cruiser to drop the offspring to school.

They would have to skip horse-riding on account of her allergies, but that was a minor upset. Neither child seemed too keen to ride with the hounds despite lessons.

The hubby would cope, he had work to escape to and the nanny could gladly take

charge. The trouser press he got for Christmas would finally come in useful and he could work late whenever he chose. With nanny on overtime, he might even get some golf in or head to the golf club to schmooze.

All that remained was to cancel some treatments easily accessed abroad. No flighty volcano could upset the weekly pamper, a ritual religiously observed. And who would deny them one little indulgence when stranded so far from home?

“Thank God for technology,” the ladies sighed, as they chalked up their list of commands. Hitting ‘send’ on their iPhones, they prepared to relax as someone signalled for a giant jug of Pimms. Panic was pointless, the nannies were on standby and Eyjafjallajokull was doing its own thing. Best party on and toast that great wind that surely blew somebody ill.

Back home, Packed Lunch Mum received

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2010

regular updates from the moneyed bunch stuck in the sun. The NQOCDs (Not Quite Our Class Darlings) were always having more fun. Poor Packed-Lunch Mum sniffed and gritted her teeth and wished she had money to burn.

Much of her time was spent at the clothes line hanging out wash after wash. Eyjafjallajokull’s little outburst had spewed grey ash earthward, coating clean clothing in dust.

Whatever small blessings it had brought to the sun-soaked, for her it was clearly a curse.

She knew she should be grateful not to face the uncertainty of being marooned for who knew how long. She knew there were mothers riven by worry, many miles from their daughters and sons. She knew home is where the heart is but was there a chance her heart was in the Costa del Sol? There was something to be said for an Act of God, uninfluenced by the power of Man.

TERAPROOF:User:margaretjenningsDate:28/04/2010Time:17:09:26Edition:30/04/2010FeelgoodXH3004Page:11

Zone:XH

11

XH - V1

What’s up doc?

S

HOULD you ever worry that your own lifestyle has become a bit too hectic, that your impossible schedule will be the death of you one of these fine days, then you might contemplate a week in Pixie McKenna’s shoes.

Not only is the Cork-born GP, now resident in England, one of the stars of Channel 4’s BAFTA-winning series, Embarrassing Bodies, but she also manages to keep up a career as a doctor on both sides of the Irish Sea. And if that’s not enough, she has somehow also managed to find the time to publish her first book, The Handbag Doctor, a comprehensive medical guide specifically written for women.

“Writing a book was something I always wanted to do,” says McKenna, “and this is definitely my greatest achievement, it is the greatest amount of work I have ever put into something. I wanted it to be both informative and user-friendly, something to empower women.”

So just how does McKenna juggle her time?

“I reckon my time now is 60% doing the TV show, radio and the writing and the other 40% is doing the clinical work,” she says. “I don’t have children but I do have a dog and a boyfriend and with the telly, you have a lot of weekends away and getting up at five in the morning to go filming in some godforsaken place in the North of England. People think it’s very glamorous, what I’m doing, but most of the time, to be honest, you’re sitting in the back of a white van, drinking tea from polystyrene cups.”

But McKenna could never countenance her TV career as a full-time occupation.

“I am very privileged to be able to do the TV stuff but it is not what I trained to do.

Anyway, I’d soon be so out of touch, I’d look like a right eejit. In fact, it would be impossible not to do the two.”

Career-wise, you get the impression the quite unflappable McKenna is happy enough to make it up as she goes along: “Winging it is the story of my life,” she says.

“My mother was going on to me recently about needing to ‘live in the real world’ and I said to her: “Well, I’ve spent 38 years getting this far without joining the real world and I’m certainly not ready to join you yet’.”

Her profile is finally catching up with her and she admits she is constantly approached in public. And there is also a new angle to those seeking a free diagnosis from an off-duty doctor: “If I’m out, especially, say, a Saturday night, I’m always getting these fellas coming up to me telling me they have itchy groins! My standard response is to tell them I’m off-duty but I would be delighted to see them if they are prepared to go on the TV show.”

McKenna herself is in perfectly good health other than a bad snoring problem. “I am a shocking snorer, I inherited nasal polyps from my father. I suppose I’ll have to get them looked at eventually.”

Other than that she says she is “pretty sensible — lots of exercise, I’m a keen cyclist, eat well, loads of sleep and not particularly bothered by stress. Don’t get me wrong, I eat and drink the wrong things as well but everything in moderation — including moderation.”

TV doctor Pixie McKenna has just produced her greatest achievement, writes Joe McNamee

BUSY BEE: As well as her television work, Pixie McKenna practises as a GP in Cork and London, and has also written a comprehensive medical guide for women. Picture: Denis Scannell

Feelgood

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2010

WHEN GLASS SIZE MATTERS “I’VE had countless women come into my surgery, curious, worried, even terrified,” says Dr Pixie McKenna.

“And the topics in the book are the usual things they ask about. If people knew what to ask or tell the doctor during their allotted 12 minutes, they might get better value for their money. This book is priming them to ask the right questions.”

Of the many questions addressed, from gynaecology to breast health to skin and infectious diseases, we decided to focus on one: Is my lifestyle damaging my liver?

Here’s what Dr McKenna has to say: “Your liver sits on Picture: Getty Images the right of your body under your rib cage.

You can’t see it or feel it on the outside, but unbeknown to you, it’s working hard on the inside. Ask people what role the liver plays and most will mention alcohol. Yes, it does act to process alcohol, but it also has over 600 other functions so understandably it gets irritated when it becomes overrun with booze. “ What does the liver do? “The liver is like a chemical processing factory, breaking substances down, processing them, storing them and producing new products every second of the day. We cannot live without it. Like all factories it will do overtime when needed, but constant pressure on the workforce and resources, such as from a large amount of alcohol, ultimately means that the production line suffers and processes start to break down.

What’s safe? “Women should not drink more than 14 units per week and more than three per day. We are often ‘woolly’ about what we consider to be a unit: a large glass of Pinot Grigio in a hotel bar may mean you tot up three units in one go, so beware of your measures. It is fairly easy for your doctor to see whether your liver is happy by checking your liver function tests.

“A high level of a liver enzyme known as gamma-GT is a very sensitive indicator of alcohol consumption, so although you may be telling your doctor you are abstemious, your blood will tell a different story. As a rule of thumb, try to stick to the safe guidelines and make sure you give your liver a rest by having regular weekly alcohol-free days, ideally two in every seven.

“If you drink more than your liver can handle, fat will be deposited around it. If you keep on drinking, your liver will become inflamed — hepatitis. Ignore this sign to stop and there is a 10 to 20% chance that you will develop cirrhosis of the liver. There is no going back from this condition as the liver cells die and only a transplant can save you.

“Overweight women who drink too much are far more susceptible to liver disease, and one in three women drink more than the safe limits. Women also like to binge — as medics, we define this as twice our daily units. So ladies, six units, or put practically, two large glasses of wine at lunchtime, qualifies as a binge. Alcohol has other specific dangers for women, such as increasing the risk of cancers such as breast cancer, causing problems with fertility and leading to depression. In addition, one in six women have unprotected sex after a boozy binge.”

TERAPROOF:User:irenefeighanDate:28/04/2010Time:14:40:56Edition:30/04/2010FeelgoodXH3004Page:12

Zone:XH

12

XH - V2

Have a bite to eat

Forget cutlery, here’s some fresh finger food for parties Healing with wholefoods Roz Crowley

HEALING with Wholefoods, a microbiotic cookery course held by Dorothée Clarke, pictured, will be held in Bandon, Co Cork for the next five Tuesdays.

Cooking tasty food without sugar, meat or dairy involves using a wide range of nutritious grains and pulses, along with fresh, organic vegetables and fruit.

Tasty sugar-free desserts will finish each evening, so go there with a good appetite.

Classes can be booked in a block at a reduced price or individually for F40 per class.

Ring (021) 7331690. Website: www.natural-health.ie/dorothee_clarke

T

HE season for entertaining is upon us. With Holy Communions, Confirmations, pre-wedding parties, hen and stags, there are plenty of excuses to push the boat out. Doing it with the least amount of strain, financially and physically, and with an eye on healthy fresh food is the way to go, and it’s not difficult.

When planning a menu, think simplicity and opt for finger food which rules out the need for high-maintenance plates, knives and forks. Tapas have been in fashion for some time and they make a good alternative to heavy platefuls of food. It can be a plate-free, fork-free affair and yet deliver a wide range of healthy foods.

Choosing ingredients that will keep well, even in the sun (if we are lucky enough for it to shine when we need it), will allow flexibility to be in or outdoors. Below are 10 ideas for easy tapas made with local, Irish ingredients, but if you want be more authentically Spanish, a new book will help. The Book of Tapas by Simone and Inés Ortaga and José Andrés has lots of traditional, Spanish recipes. Published in hardback by Phaidon (about F28).

1. Sandwiches can be made ahead, even overnight if the fillings are not too wet. Stick with good quality ham, mixing some mustard into butter before spreading. Top with some Ballymaloe relish, or an onion marmalade.

Cut into squares of a few centimetres, skewer with a cocktail stick or branches of rosemary with the leaves pulled off. These are plentiful now as rosemary was hit by the winter weather, but the woody stalks remain. Thread a few varied sandwiches together and you have your first plate of tapas organised. Cover in clingfilm and keep overnight in a cool place, ideally not in the fridge where they could dry out.

2. Sourdough bread lightly toasted on both sides and scraped first with half a clove of garlic then with half a tomato makes a delicious tapa. Just before serving, drizzle with olive oil and use salt flakes to finish.

3. Smoked salmon. Recently our survey revealed a few reasonably priced smoked salmon brands that can be used to make good, Irish tapas. The cream cheese pairing works well, and I like the mix of fresh salmon with smoked salmon for a paté or dip, adding mascarpone cheese to make a looser mixture for a dip. Quality smoked salmon is best left simple on chunky brown bread with wedges of lemon on the side for squeezing, along with a grinding of black pepper.

Feelgood

Pops in a handy pack

Picture: Getty Images

4. Dips make easy party dishes and one of the most popular in my house is anchovies liquidised with hardboiled eggs and a little mayonnaise. Sometimes we omit the eggs and just have liquidised anchovies with olive oil.

5. The tapas book has a simple recipe for strips of Gruyere cheese rolled up in bacon secured with a cocktail stick. Fry in olive oil for 10-15 until the bacon is well cooked.

6. Gruyere cheese can also be used in delicious and quite substantial cheese and egg croquettes. A simple béchamel sauce , made with 750ml milk, 3 tabsps butter and 4 tbsps flour, is the base to which 2 eggs are added, then 200g Gruyère cheese.

Allow to cool, then form into croquettes and roll in breadcrumbs. Next, dip into two well-beaten eggs, before rolling again in breadcrumbs. Finally, fry in vegetable oil.

The two layers of breadcrumbs is the secret of a crunchy finish here. Keep warm in a low oven until all the croquettes are ready to serve. Top with deep fried parsley. If trying to avoid plates, serve on sticks with small

napkins.

7. Always popular for parties at this time of year are boiled tiny new potatoes, and they make great tapas. Toss them in olive oil which has been flavoured by gently heating the oil with a little paprika, chilli or onion for 5 minutes, then discard the chilli or onion pieces. Add roughly chopped parsley and pierce the potatoes with cocktail sticks to serve.

8. Make quiches and pizzas, but instead of serving large slices, cut them into little square or triangles. Sprinkle with chopped parsley or coriander just before serving.

9. . Chickpeas make great tapas.

Add chopped onion and parsley, a squeeze of garlic and a drizzle of olive oil and serve in cupcake cases.

10. Slice favourite cheeses thinly and serve on good brown bread or crackers. For a retro ’70s look, thread onto cocktail sticks with slices of gherkin, red pepper, apple (dip pieces first in water with a squeeze of lemon to prevent discolouring), olives, new season radishes. Put on Abba and dance off the calories for a perfect ’70s experience.

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2010

GOOD luck to Co Dublin-based potato growers Keogh’s who have repackaged their potatoes into handy, attractive double serving bags, turing the humble spud into a convenience food.

Priced at F1 for packs of two Roosters or several small new potatoes, they are not cheap, but come ready-washed and with no smell or taste of preservatives.

Available in supermarkets, the new potatoes served two for at least two days in my house.

In a jam for vitamin C? BLACKCURRANT jam is a good buy at the moment to boost our vitamin C consumption when there isn’t too much fruit around.

Good in hot water for a drink, the Marlene brand from Lidl has plump fruit.

A small 250g jar costs F1.08.

TERAPROOF:User:margaretjenningsDate:28/04/2010Time:16:08:10Edition:30/04/2010FeelgoodXH3004Page:13

Zone:XH

13

XH - V1

Sharing can be the caring thing to do

V

HELPING OTHERS: Cllr Derry Canty, Mayor of Co Cork, with his recycled mobile phone box and balloons, at the launch of the Irish Cancer Society Daffodil Day, 2010 in the Sheraton Hotel and Spa Resort, Fota, Co Cork. Picture: Richard Mills

OLUNTEERING for your local sports club or community group isn’t about killing time, it’s about giving something back. There’s a huge sense of satisfaction from knowing that you’re making a difference to others.

In 2007, US research published by the Corporation for National and Community Service showed that volunteers have greater longevity, higher functional ability, lower rates of depression and less incidence of heart disease.

Now the Irish Cancer Society wants to harness the benefits of volunteers. If you have survived cancer, you could be a great help to newly diagnosed patients by providing emotional support and peer-to-peer empathy.

“Following recovery from cancer, people vary significantly in their willingness and desire to have ongoing involvement in the area of cancer,” says Dr Sonya Collier, principal clinical psychologist at St James’ hospital psychology-oncology services. “Some survivors cope best by minimising the

Deirdre O'Flynn

MOSTLY MEN amount of time they spend in hospitals or with cancer patients. However, for others, helping people, through sharing what they have learned from their own cancer experience, can be highly rewarding. Survivors such as these can experience a great sense of achievement and self-worth from acting as a volunteer in a cancer support group.”

Training will be provided for all volunteers, who will ideally be three years post-treatment for cancer, be able to provide practical information and speak of their own experiences, and be empathic and willing to provide emotional support.

The Irish Cancer Society also needs volunteers to help staff new information centres in Waterford regional hospital and Beaumont hospital, Dublin.

The Daffodil Centres will open to the public during summer 2010. An experienced cancer nurse, funded by the society, runs the centres and will be supported by trained volunteers.

Specifically, the role of the volunteer will be to make visitors to the Daffodil Centre welcome, show visitors the range of information available, arrange for visitors to meet with the cancer nurse, and bring visitors/patients to hospital appointments or services.

Anyone who is interested in volunteering at the Daffodil Centres can contact Avril O’Sullivan on 01-2310533, or email aosullivan@irishcancer.ie.

If you’re interested in peer-to-peer volunteering, contact Deirdre Murphy at the Irish Cancer Society on 01-2310 564 or dmurphy@irishcancer.ie.

Men’s health to come Parenting meetings to help under the spotlight build better relationships MEN’S health is coming under the spotlight at a conference in Galway in June.

Looking at multi-disciplinary approaches to improving men’s health, the conference will examine best practice.

Run by the Health Promotion Research Centre at NUI Galway on June 10-11, the conference will also hear from

A

TAKE

speakers on building men’s health partnerships and networks and contributing to implementing the National Men’s Health Policy. Community workers, youth workers, primary care teams, voluntary agencies and health promotion personnel are welcome.

Info, from www.hprcconference.ie or call 091 492 722.

4

T this time of year with students studying hard for exams, stress levels are high.

“TExercise, a positive mental attitude and nutrition are proven antidotes,” says Brendan Clifford sales and marketing Director of health foods distributor, Wholefoods Wholesale Ltd. “There exists a strong relationship between nutrient intake and the mental state of a person. A diet high in fresh fruit and vegetables, complex carbohydrates and quality protein, especially oily fish, can help.”

Clifford also recommends the following supplements to nourish the brain and help you deal with stress.

Feelgood

IF you’re a parent, you might want to check out Vhi Healthcare’s series of free parenting meetings with David Coleman, pictured here, presenter of the RTÉ hit series Teens in the Wild and Families in Trouble.

The evening meetings will take place in the Clarion Hotel, Limerick on May 6 at 7pm at the Heritage Hotel in Portlaoise on May 12 at 7pm; and at the Vhi SwiftCare Clinic, CityGate Mahon in Cork on May 19 at 7pm.

“Many parents feel they spend their time nagging and giving out

DId you know...

Motorbike riders aged 40 and over are nearly twice as likely to be killed on the road

in order to make their child behave,” says clinical psychologist David Coleman. “This can eventually lead both sides to feeling stuck in a rut of punishment which is counter-productive to positive and healthy relationships. Although there are no hard and fast rules for parenting, these seminars are designed to help mums and dads re-connect and build close, lasting bonds with their children.”

The seminars run from 7pm to 9pm and includes a slot for Q & A. Email sinead.gray@vhi.ie to book a place.

Source: University of Rochester Medical Center, US

Exam Supplements BRAIN FOOD: Higher Nature is a company that specialises in cutting-edge supplements designed for specific uses. Higher Nature’s Omega 3, F17.20 for 180 caps, is a fish oil supplement Clifford recommends. In addition, Higher Nature’s Advanced Brian Nutrients, 30 caps F10.55 for 30 caps, or F19.50 for 60 caps provides key vitamins and other nutrients that support brain function helping with concentration, memory and learning.

NERVE TONIC: When it comes to dealing with stress, certain nutrients are invaluable, among them, a good intake of B vitamins and magnesium. Higher Nature has developed a supplement to nourish the nervous system called Balance for Nerves, F8.85 for 30 caps, or F16.60 for 60 caps. This nutritional complex provides a special formulation of vitamins, amino acids and magnesium to support the nervous system and mind.

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2010

SMART FATS: Omega 3 fatty acids support good brain function helping with concentration, learning ability and memory, however many people eat little or no fish which means that they may not be getting an optimum amount from their diet. Eskimo 3 oil available in capsules as well as liquid is one of Ireland’s most popular brands of fish oil and with good reason. It has been the subject of over 40 research papers proving its many benefits. Eskimo 3 Oil is F18.99 for either 105 caps or 105 ml.

FLOWER POWER: Naturopath Jan de Vries has used flower remedies in his clinics for many years for the treatment of stress. Two of the 12 blends in his Combination Flower Essences range may be particularly suitable at exam time. Concentration Essence helps keeps the mind clear during periods of excessive mental work, while Emergency Essence is useful for short-term stressful situations. Flower Essences are taken orally in a little water or directly under the tongue and cost F5.35 each for 30ml. See www.avogel.ie for more details.

Zone:XH

14

XH - V1

Picture: Getty Images

Nature’s way

TERAPROOF:User:margaretjenningsDate:28/04/2010Time:16:02:24Edition:30/04/2010FeelgoodXH3004Page:14

Emily O’Sullivan

Plants have always pampered the skin, but with the help of science they can work real wonders

W

HETHER it’s aloe vera to soothe skin conditions, or essential oils to disguise dodgy unpleasant body odours, plant ingredients have been used in cosmetics for decades, if not centuries.

These were among the very first beauty products available to us — and while the ancient Egyptians might not have been as obsessed as we are with fine lines and wrinkles, they were still an image-conscious society, and used plants to assist them in looking their best.

It’s no surprise, then, that beauty companies today are still harnessing the natural power of plant ingredients to deliver some of the best beauty products around. Clinique’s new Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector, F58, uses a new rare botanical ingredient, derived from Dianella Ensifolia, which is believed to reduce and prevent the appearance of uneven, pigmented skin.

Aveda and Origins have also recently launched potent skin-brightening plant-powered products (a serum called Embrightenment from Aveda, and a peel called Brighter

by Nature from Origins).

This new stream of products fuse the very best of botanical ingredients with the very latest technology to create formulations that, while they cannot strictly be called “natural” are certainly at the cutting edge of skincare.

According to Leigh Anne, head of business development at US der-

THE NEWS ON ...

GREASEPAINT STICKS MAKE-UP is supposed to be fun, and that’s exactly what Mac delivers with its new Greasepaint Sticks, F19.

Super-easy to apply, effective and versatile, the Sticks can be used as an eyeliner or smudged out to create a smokey, slightly opalescent eyeshadow.

Water- and transfer-resistant, eight shades are available from Below Ground, a blackened bronze, through to Uniformly Navy, a blackened navy.

TAKE THREE NEW MASCARAS IT DOESN’T matter what trend you go for this summer — whether it’s nude, neon or coral — a good mascara is the bedrock of modern beauty. Take it up a notch this month with three new mascaras that deliver what they promise.

matologist-lead skincare brand NeoStrata: “In the future, we will see both new types of ingredients (science and natural derived ingredients) in specific products or combinations of these ingredients in single products.

“Today’s consumers are more educated and spending more time to find the most effective products for their specific skincare needs. They are going back to basic and effective skincare regimens where they are receiving value for their money.”

But while consumers may be simplifying their skincare regimes and using fewer products, they still expect high performance from their products. If a cream is not working, whether it’s derived from plants or not, women won’t buy it again.

NeoStrata has just reformulated their NeoCeuticals PDS cream, F35, to include a combination of AHAs and PHas, including a brand new ingredients called maltobionic

acid, which is derived from malt and has anti-ageing benefits.

It’s used to treat seriously dry skin on the body — and is particularly good at getting your feet into shape for summer. If you’re looking for a solidly natural approach to skincare, then brands such as Dr Hauschka, Liz Earle, Korres, REN and Weleda are great starting points.

Remember that just because a brand may call itself “natural”, it can still contain other ingredients that you may not wish to put on your face, such as parabens and sulphates.

Likewise, just because a product has “organic” written on it doesn’t mean that it is 100% organic.

Always look to products that have a certification from a recognised body, such as the Soil Association if you want to ensure that what you’re putting on your skin is entirely pure.

And don’t expect miracles from purely organic products — they are effective but tend to be a little more basic.

Clinique High Lengths Mascara, F19. This is a great lifting and lengthening mascara, with a very odd looking applicator that manages to get right to the root of the lashes and stretch them beautifully without any spiky effect. It’s perfect if you need a mascara that specifically makes your lashes look longer rather than thicker.

8 Estee Lauder Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara, F23. It says volume and it gives volume. This is a really thick, lustrous mascara that does make your lashes thicker.

It can flake a little bit on application, but all in all it’s a great thickening and curling product that gives lashes a great curl. 8 L’Oreal Paris Extra Volume Collagene, F14.99. This one is easily our favourite. It has a great big fat brush that sweeps over the lashes and both plumps and lengthens.

Lashes don’t clump or flake, and it lasts incredibly well from morning to late night.

Excellent.

10

STUFF WE LIKE REN Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask, F48. This potent bio-active peel uses a fruit acid complex to deeply exfoliate skin that is congested, mature or suffering from post-acne scarring, blemishes and blackheads. REN does not use synethic ingredients and instead harness the latest developments in bio-active technology to create products that boost the skin’s natural processes.

Nuxe Crème Nirvanesque, F33.50. Designed to soothe, distress and relax first wrinkles, Nuxes’s star product includes exclusive patented

Feelgood

ingredients including a combination of poppy seeds, althea root and acmella, a flowering herb.

sis of natural products and high-tech science with an anti-pollution complex derived from moringa oleifera seeds.

Trilogy CoQ10 Booster Serum, F28.95. Formulated for maturing skin, Trilogy’s Age Proof range, which includes this new booster serum, uses powerful natural ingredients to treat maturing skin. Containing the antioxidant CoQ10, this powerful serum also contains tamanu oil, a fatty-acid-rich oil, which helps to deeply moisturise the skin.

Origins Mega Mushroom Skin Calming Face Mask, F25.07. It’s not just mushrooms packed into this face mask — there’s ginger, holy basil, turmeric and Chinese black bamboo, too.

Decleor Hydra Floral Anti-Pollution, F60.20. Known for their plant-derived products, Decleor’s Hydra Floral is a synthe-

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2010

Aveda Green Science Firming Face Cream, F64.50. This little baby from Aveda contains lady’s thistle, argan oil and cactus formula and has been clinically proven to show a 41% more lifted appearance when used as part of a four-step system with serum, eye cream and line minimiser.

TERAPROOF:User:margaretjenningsDate:28/04/2010Time:15:45:43Edition:30/04/2010FeelgoodXH3004Page:15

Zone:XH

15

XH - V1

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

IS there an equivalent for Viagra for women? I am in my mid-50s in good health mentally and physically. I eat well but seem to have lost some of my natural urges when it comes to sex. Is there something that could give me a boost as I have met a man after many years of being on my own?

A. There are a number of products available claiming to be quick fixes for female libido, but I believe in a holistic approach with the addition of a couple of key herbs. Firstly, it is important to consider the hormonal changes which will be happening in your body as a natural rite of passage.

Eating a balanced wholefoods diet, getting plenty of pure water and exercising regularly, are always important to establishing balance with any individual. Specific symptoms of perimenopause [the stage leading up to the menopause] and menopause itself are thought to be much less problematic or absent altogether in women who have healthy lifestyles.

Dong quai is one of my favourite herbs for females, since it has a tonic action and will balance the reproductive system — which can provide a smooth passage through menopausal change and boost a flagging libido. Another action of this herb is to increase vaginal lubrication. If you are interested in a natural external lubrication product, then consider the ‘Yes’ range of certified organic intimacy products for women.

Yet another adaptogenic herb which helps nourish the body, balance hormones and restore sex drive is the Andean superfood — maca. This root vegetable is a complete protein and high in many vitamins and minerals, including calcium and zinc. Zinc is important for a healthy libido functioning in males and females, with zinc deficiency being one of the most common causes of a decrease in sex drive.

Maca increases energy levels, improves mood, and is a powerful antioxidant (approximately 100 times the levels found in other cruciferous crops such as broccoli and cabbage). No wonder it was considered to be more valuable than gold in Incan times.

■ Dong quai is available from Nature’s Way (056 65896) where 100 capsules cost F13.50.

■ Order ‘Yes’ products by phone on 00 44 0845-094 1141 or online at www.yesyesyes.org.

■ Rio Peruvian Maca is available in health stores or from Rio Health Direct online www.riohealth.co.uk (00 44-1273 570987).

Q. I am 67 years of age and am profoundly deaf. My doctor told me, after I had hearing tests completed, that the only

SEXUAL HEALING: For a flagging libido, a balance of a healthy diet and regular exercise coupled with key foods high in zinc may help. Picture:Getty Images

thing which would resolve any hearing is a transplant to the brain. It can’t be done in Ireland, only in Manchester, England. I would have to get an opinion from an ear surgeon there to see if I would be a suitable candidate for the operation. My doctor or the person that carried out the tests doesn’t seem to know how the implant is done. Any information about the procedure would be greatly appreciated.

A. From your description it sounds as if your doctor is recommending an auditory brainstem implant (ABI). Developed using the same technology as cochlear implants, this device is for people who are profoundly deaf and don’t have cochlear nerves (making them unsuitable candidates for cochlear implants).

It works by stimulating the auditory pathway through the cochlear nucleus, which forms part of the hearing area of the brainstem. The ABI device used as part of The Manchester Auditory Brainstem Implant Programme consists of an electrode array and a receiver stimulator which are implanted during the operation.

The electrode array is placed on the cochlear nucleus, while the receiver stimulator is implanted behind the ear.

There is a visible component to the device — a battery-driven speech processor — which fits behind the ear, much like a hearing aid. This processor is connected to a

The humble onion

Megan puts the spotlight on:

H

AVE you ever considered that when you are chopping an onion and it is bringing tears to your eyes, it is actually working medicinally to open the sinus area and activate the immune system?

Onions have long been used to heal a wide range of ailments, with records of this kitchen remedy being in use as early as 4000 BC. They are also nutritionally beneficial, being rich in vitamins A, B group, C, folic acid, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, chromium, iron and dietary fibre.

During WWII, onions were used for their wound-healing properties, and to reduce pain. They also help to lower cholesterol, increase iron levels in cases of anaemia, reduce inflammation in tissue and joints, fight infection, balance blood pressure, prevent colon cancer, relieve constipation, reduce insulin levels and improve glu-

Feelgood

cose tolerance, cleanse the blood, prevent bone deterioration, and apparently are a potent aphrodisiac (particularly white onions).

There are many varieties, and the properties will differ depending on which onions you use and how long the onion has been in storage. Here are a few simple home remedies to keep in mind: ■ Ringing in the ear: Put a few drops of onion juice onto a cotton wool ball and place in the outer ear.

■ Hair loss: Apply onion juice to the scalp twice weekly for two to three months to stimulate regrowth.

■ Cough syrup: Chop an onion and place it in a small saucepan. Cover it with honey and heat gently for an hour. Strain into a bottle and use as a

transmitting coil, which is magnetically attached to the internal implant behind the ear.

Some individuals require a body-worn speech processor. The external components of the ABI are typically fitted about six weeks after the operation — you will not be able to hear with the device until these parts are fitted.

The surgery itself takes several hours and requires an operation into the skull (craniotomy), and placement of the internal components onto the brain stem and skull bone respectively. The implanted device is stimulated during surgery so brain responses can be monitored via scalp electrodes to assist with correct placement.

An x-ray is required a couple of days after surgery to check the position of the internal components, preliminary testing on the device functioning may be performed, and the stitches will be removed before you are discharged from the hospital.

Before you are considered for this type of implant, there are several assessment procedures to determine your suitability. If it is right for you, then you will be given full information regarding the surgery, risks, the device itself, expected outcomes, and you will have the opportunity to see the components and meet with an implant user so that you have a realistic idea of what to expect.

cough syrup as needed. Also great for preventing coughs and colds.

■ Urinary tract infection: Chop an onion and place it in a small saucepan, covering it with water. Boil until half of the water has evaporated, then strain and drink when cooled. This is particularly useful when urination is accompanied by a burning sensation.

■ Congestion/respiratory: Chop half of an onion and bake uncovered at 120°C for 20 minutes, until the onion becomes slightly slippery in texture. When almost cool, wrap it as a poultice and place it on the chest area to clear congestion in the lungs. For sensitive skins rub olive oil onto the skin first. Suitable as a remedy for all ages.

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2010

During WWII, onions were used for their wound healing properties, and to reduce pain

TERAPROOF:User:GREGMCCANNDate:28/04/2010Time:15:41:16Edition:30/04/2010FeelgoodXH3004Page:16

Zone:XH

16

XH - V1

ENJOY HEARING AGAIN... ...get Better, Clearer, more Natural Hearing with the most Technologically Advanced Digital Instrument available

Introducing the New tarkey S Series fromis S the biggest leap

The S Series from Starkey years. It offers in Hearing Aid Technology in le, switching features never before possib hearing patterns automatically to anticipate

SO SMALL AND SO EFFECTIVE

It is truly amazing that this wonderful invention can be so small. Even your closest friends will find it difficult to believe that you are wearing a hearing aid. Yes, improved hearing is now easier than you had thought possible thanks to the new S Series.

DON’T SUFFER IN SILENCE

“If you think you have a hearing problem...the time to act is NOW. Living life to its fullest means hearing all the sounds around you. The important sounds of conversation, telephone and TV. To help ensure that you receive the highest quality hearing care, we utilise the most sophisticated diagnostic and evaluation service available. You have my personal assurance of satisfaction in all your dealings with us.” GRAHAM M. QUIN

lise in...

We also specia NG PROTECTION

ARI orts usage CUSTOMISED HE ic, swimming and motor sp us m MMES For industrial, ATION PROGRA g RV SE N CO G N RI HEA hearin OCCUPATIONAL assessments. Assessment of etry e Workplace nois ements. Occupational audiom ir protection requ ENT OF TINNITUS FOR THE TREATM PY A ER TH R SE SOFT LA

FREE HEARING TEST

Offer valid from Today until Friday, May 14, 2010 This is a wonderful opportunity to have your hearing evaluated by the top people in their field Government grant of up to €1,520 for P.R.S.I. contributors and their spouses Phone 021 4271351 An appointment saves time

Crowley’s Opticians & Hearing Aid Clinic 26 GRAND PARADE, CORK 021 4271351

GRAHAM M. QUIN BE MSc (Audiology) Dip SHWW Dip Env Eng CEng MIEI MIOSH Consulting Audiological Scientist Feelgood

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2010