Feelgood 026-11-2010

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Feelgood

Friday, November 26, 2010

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Four top Irish authors celebrate the season of goodwill: 8, 9

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2 News front Kate O’Reilly WHAT’S ON ■ ENDOMETRIOSIS SUPPORT: If you would like to know more about endometriosis, or if you have been diagnosed with endometriosis and would like to meet other women who are going through similar experiences, come along to the support group meeting of the Endometriosis Association of Ireland in Mallow this weekend. Partners, friends and family members are also welcome in the Hibernian Hotel (Tudor Room), Main Street, Mallow, tomorrow from 2:30 to 4:30pm. More information at www.endo.ie, or mobile 086-3203855.

DYSLEXIA TALK: The Cork branch of the Dyslexia Association of Ireland (DAI) is holding an information for parents and second level students at Bishopstown Community School on December 1. Psychologist Seamus Feehan will give a presentation. James Northridge will speak on how to overcome the challenges of second level education and going on to university. Both talks begin at 7.45pm. Admission is F10 for adults and students are free.

GP EVENING: The Dean Clinic is inviting GPs to an education evening at Maryborough House Hotel, Douglas on Wednesday next at 7.30pm. Treasa O’Sullivan, consultant psychiatrist, will speak about cognitive behavioural therapy and Prof Jim Lucey, medical director, St Patrick’s University Hospital, will give a talk on maintaining mental health in challenging times. To book call Angie O’Brien on 01-6477733.

CHILDREN’S WORKSHOP: Cork Environmental Forum is holding a Christmas workshop for children tomorrow from 1 to 4pm at the Lifetime Lab, Lee Road. This free workshop is suitable for ages seven and up. CEF is also looking for donations of materials, including green briquette twine, scratched CDs, silver-lined juice cartons and old light bulbs. To arrange collection of materials or to book a place email patrick@cef.ie.

HEART CLINIC: The Irish Heart Foundation will hold a free blood pressure and cholesterol testing clinic in Midleton at the Family Resource Centre on Wednesday next from 2.30 to 4pm. For more details call 021-4505822.

GROUP HEALING: John Moloney is a non-touch spiritual healer who offers group healing sessions on the first Friday of the month in Vienna Woods Hotel, Glanmire, Co Cork. His next session is on Friday next at 8pm. See www.johnjmoloney.com.

MG CONFERENCE: The Myasthenia Gravis Association will host a conference tomorrow in the Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork to raise awareness of the auto-immune disease in Cork. Speakers will include Dr Aisling Ryan, consultant neurologist at CUH and MG specialist nurse Lisa Gribbin, from St Vincent’s in Dublin. The conference, which runs from 10.30am to 2pm, is free and open to the public. Register at www.mga-charity.ie or contact Karen Clancy on 065-6838270.

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

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New book on postnatal depression offers help to one in five women who go through it, says Helen O’Callaghan

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Reaching out

ADGE Fogarty remembers the new mother who was advised by a colleague to “just pretend you have postnatal depression and you’ll get an extra three months off work”. It’s a prime example, says Fogarty — chair of Postnatal Depression (PND) Ireland — of how PND is still not seen by some as a serious illness, which in certain cases has led mothers to take their lives.

Along with Bernie Kealey, founder of Postnatal Distress Association Ireland, Fogarty has co-written Recovering From Postnatal Depression. Due to be launched in Dublin next Wednesday, the book reaches out to the one in five women in Ireland who suffer from PND, many of whom feel isolated, unsupported and scared the distress they feel will never end.

“Everyone will recover, but the sooner you get help the quicker you’ll get better,” says Fogarty, who suffered serious PND after the birth of her second son.

PND is very often an unexpected visitor.

“You’ve just had a baby. You’re ‘supposed’ to be over the moon. Maybe you’ve waited ages for this child or had IVF. Or you might be a mum of three boys, who always wanted a girl. Now you’ve got the girl — but you’ve also got PND. Women say ‘I got what I wanted. How come this is happening?’” says Fogarty, adding that PND respects no boundaries. “It affects women of all ages, social and ethnic backgrounds,

BODY BLOW: Post natal depression leaves mothers feeling isolated and unsupported.

Picture: Getty

women who work at home, who go out to work, married and single women.”

PND can also strike when the mother mightn’t make the connection between how she’s feeling and the fact she has had a baby.

“PND can develop up to six months after the birth. The optimum time is six to 10 weeks post-delivery. It’s around then women hit the exhaustion wall. It’s also when family/friends are inclined to pull back, saying ‘she knows it all now — we’ll leave her at it’.”

Women at particular risk of PND include those with family history of PND/clinical depression, those who’ve had a bad birth ex-

perience, who strive to be supermum or who feel isolated at home, having been used to the workplace buzz.

The book looks at PND signs/symptoms, (including difficulty sleeping, anxiety around baby and not wanting to be left alone with him/her, seeing small tasks that never used to be difficult as major challenges), what it’s like to live with PND and practical recovery advice.

■ Recovering From Postnatal Depression (price: F9.99) is available from Eason’s and from PND Ireland. Visit www.pnd.ie.

HEALTH NOTES All-Black legends Josevata Rokocoko, Ma’a Nonu and Anthony Boric took time off from their match preparations last week to help Brent Pope launch his new children’s book, Bones, in aid of the Irish Osteoporosis Society (IOS) and sponsored by Mace.

Aimed at seven to 12-year-olds, Bones is only available at Mace stores nationwide for F2.99 and from the Irish Osteoporosis Society (www.irishosteoporosis.ie). According to Michele O’Brien, IOS health promotion manager: “Bones is a great story and also contains important health messages.

Healthy eating and weight bearing exercise are essential for healthy bones. Osteoporosis is a disease that manifests itself in childhood. If a child does not build up their maximum bone strength when their bones are growing, this will place them at much higher risk of developing osteoporosis.”

A talented group of 14 Cork-based musicians have joined forces to do a live recording in aid of CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young).

The recording is a tribute to Ciara O’Connor (aged 15) who died suddenly on December 8, 2006, of a cardiac arrest.The album is available to download/purchase from cdbaby.com and iTunes; Mr Bradleys, Barrack St, Cork; Pro Musica, Cork; Bandon Books, Bandon; Scannell’s Pharmacy, Ballineen, Co Cork (Ciara’s home town). All proceeds go directly to CRY. A breakthrough genomic test could help

www.irishexaminer.com www.irishexaminer.com

previously would have.”

Ireland’s first White Ribbon Campaign calls on all men to wear a white ribbon to say no to violence against women. It is the first major activity of a new alliance called The Other Half. Similar campaigns throughout the world encourage the involvement of men’s voices to challenge the behaviour of men who are violent. The campaign was launched on Tuesday by Miriam O’Callaghan along with men from sporting life, entertainment and civil and state organisations. Watch for over 20 white ribbon events throughout the country over the coming weeks. Men can sign up to the White Ribbon Campaign and find out more on www.whiteribbon.ie.

BOOK LAUNCH: New Zealand players Ma’a Nonu, Joe Rokocoko and Anthony Boric help Brent Pope launch his new children’s book With air temperatures at night forecast to Bones.

Picture: Marc O’Sullivan dip below -5C and ground temperatures exwomen diagnosed with breast cancer avoid unnecessary chemotherapy. The test helps oncologists predict the benefit of chemotherapy for patients diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. The new Oncotype DX test (F3,180) is now being covered

by Aviva, the only health insurer in Ireland to do so.

Consultant medical oncologist, Professor Bryan Hennessy, said: “The genomic test could initially mean that of the 2,800 plus women diagnosed with breast cancer in Ireland each year, up to 2001 of these women may no longer require chemotherapy who

www.irishexaminer.com feelgood@examiner.ie

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2010

pected to drop to -10C, Age Action is urging the public to keep in contact with their older neighbours, and for older people to take basic steps to protect themselves and ensure they remain well and warm in their homes.

The Killavullen Farmers’ Market, Co Cork, is organising a bring and buy sale of toys to be held at the markets on Sat December 11 and Wednesday December 22. Toys donated must be in good working order, clean, safe and ready for sale.

Monies raised will go to a local charity YANA. For details contact: 087-2802257.

Editorial: 021 4802 292

Advertising: 021 4802 215

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In profile

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THE SHAPE I'M IN

Tommy Steele

A man of Steele

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OMMY Steele’s legendary career includes over 20 hit singles, Hollywood movie hits such as The Happiest Millionaire and Finian’s Rainbow and countless award-winning stage musicals (Half a Sixpence, Hans Andersen and Singin’ In the Rain).

His performances at the London Palladium in Scrooge sent him into the record books as the star to have headlined the most performances at London’s famous theatre.

Now, the man, who was once predicted to be Britain’s answer to Elvis, is set to star in Scrooge at Dublin’s Grand Canal Theatre.

The Londoner, who will celebrate his 74th birthday while in Dublin, says his career as an entertainer started when he was still at school. “I was always a show-off at school, making people laugh. I wrote a school play, directed it and performed in it when I was only 12.”

While he has never worked in this country before (“until now there was never a big enough theatre to take the kind of shows I do”), he says Ireland is part of his family.

“My wife, Ann Donoghue, is from Cork and my daughter, Emma, was conceived in Bray.”

■ Scrooge is at the Grand Canal Theatre, Dublin, from December 7 until January 2, 2011.

What shape are you in?

I’m in great shape, as fit as a butcher’s dog. I train two hours every day. I go running and I do exercises. When I’m not doing showbiz, I play two hours of tennis daily.

You have to stay fit for the parts I play.

Do you have any health concerns?

Nothing at all, except the recognition of my own mortality. That’s about as unhealthy as I get.

I’m in great shape, as fit as a butcher’s dog. I train two hours every day.

I go running and I do exercises. When I’m not doing showbiz, I play two hours of tennis daily What are your healthiest eating habits?

I take all the supplements — fish oils, garlic, ginseng, multivitamins. I stick to a very strict dietary regime. I have a very small breakfast — orange juice, a slice of wheaten toast or some Weetabix and coffee. At 3pm I have a boiled egg and a cup of coffee and at 8pm I’d eat anything. I like to go to bed with a full stomach. I like vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, peas and asparagus. I don’t like spinach.

What’s your guiltiest pleasure?

Doughnuts, but only if I’m in a big show.

When I am, I allow myself a doughnut and a cup of coffee.

Are you a good sleeper?

I get nine hours every night, as well as a two-hour afternoon nap.

How do you relax?

Reading, watching a lot of TV, writing. I like to be on my own, taking things in.

TEL.: (021) 480-0888 E-MAIL: info@hdci.ie ADDRESS: Ardrum House, Bishopstown Road, Bishopstown, Cork

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FEELGOOD

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

Winston Churchill and Elizabeth 1 — I’d love to sit and listen to the arguments.

When did you last cry?

I cried at the death of my mother in 1982.

What would you change about your appearance?

I wouldn’t change anything, I’d stay as I am.

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

I re-read To Kill A Mockingbird and Rebecca.

They were both as wonderful as when I first read them.

What’s your favourite smell?

Freshly-mown grass.

What trait do you least like in others?

Pomposity.

What trait do you least like in yourself?

I tend to hog the limelight at dinner parties.

Do you pray?

No.

Helen O’Callaghan

FIGHTING FIT: Performer Tommy Steele takes lots of supplements and sticks to a strict dietary regime.

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THE FEELGOOD PERSONALS FOR COST EFFECTIVE ADVERTISING

What would cheer up your day?

Waking up in the morning — even if I have a headache or cold — and having that sense of ‘My God, here I am, I’m still alive, it’s a wonderful day because the light is on’.

Picture: Getty

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2010

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

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Beauty gifts

Emily O’Sullivan

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Stocking stunners

YES, we know the IMF is in town and these are grim times but, thankfully, no one has told Santa. So bring on the Christmas celebrations and all the goodies that come with this happy time of year.

Whatever your budget, there are offerings aplenty to suit your purse. But whatever, you choose, it’s best to err on the side of caution. Beauty is a very personal affair.

Generally, we like to avoid the Christmas “coffret” set, as beauty companies like to call them, which package up body lotions and fragrance. They’re a little clichéd and unoriginal (unless, of course, you’re going the way of Jo Malone), so instead try and go for a gift with a bit of sparkle and a bit of thought. Your loved ones will thank you for it.

Under F100

Blow the budget Tom Ford Private Blend Eau de Parfum decanter, F260 Tom Ford’s Private Blend range starts at F115, but the decanter is easily the most elegant in the collection.

Miller Harris L’Air de Rien, F119 You have to love a perfume that describes itself as having an aura of old libraries. A lovely oriental fragrance, inspired by Jane Birkin.

Clinique The Best of Clinique, F180 The ultimate present for the ultimate Clinique fan, with all the bestsellers including Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief and All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage.

Voya Treatment Gift Set, F100 We’re big fans of Irish seaweed-based brand Voya.

Included in the set is a My Little Hero anti-ageing facial serum and Bright Eyes anti-ageing eye cream.

Chanel Les Mini des Chanel, F80 Chanel brushes are really excellent quality and this is a perfect way of ensuring you’ve got all the essentials in one easy-to-carry case.

Creme de la Mer The Luxury Essentials, F395 Well, what can we say. Outlandishly expensive, but that’s Crème de la Mer for you, and if you’ve got it to flash about and somebody you know is a fan, then you can be sure this is one gift that won’t go unappreciated.

Under F20

Under F10

This Works Joy Christmas Cracker, F10.60 With a Deep Calm Bath and Shower Oil and an Energy Bank Bath and Shower Oil, it’s a real treat for bath bunnies.

Under F50 Nars Poker Face Nail Lacquer, F17.

The light purple looks great with a little black dress and is a welcome departure from festive red and gold.

Mac Five Sassy Pink Lassies Lipgloss, F37 Hoorah, MAC comes out with Christmas gift sets that trump all others. These five gorgeous glosses are all flattering, easy to wear and very modern.

Perfect.

Giorgio Armani Rouge 404, F26 Love this lipstick. And if you’ve anyone near you who is fond of wearing reds, then this is a great choice from the sleek packaging to the deep red shade. Fabulous.

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M&S Essential Colours Beauty Tools Collection, F7 Essential beauty tools that look good? We like. This saucy little number from M&S is great value and a good looking stocking filler, with a nail clippers, tweezers and file.

L’Occitane Three Indulgent Hand Creams, F24.95 These divine hand creams are a lovely gift for an auntie, a mother-in-law or a grandmother.

Neal’s Yard Remedies Blush, F14.14 Neal’s Yard Remedies’ Blush is just the ticket for “dull face” syndrome with a radiance-boosting mask and moisturiser.

Bobbi Brown Brights Palette, F48 There’s something almost coloured Christmas lights about these lovely little eyeshadows — a definite must buy for the adventurous. A treat.

Soap & Glory The Mini Series Mini Collection Hatbox, F15 This hand-luggage friendly set has small, travel-friendly bottles. There’s a mini body butter, shower gel, body scrub, bubble bath and shower puff. A good choice for teens who like to treat themselves, too.

Clarins Barocco Limited Edition Eye Colour Trio, F34 This has a rich black eyeshadow, smouldering bronze and gold meaning you can combine them as you want for lots of different “party” looks. Beautiful.

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2010

The Body Shop Spiced Vanilla Lip Balm, F8.40 We can safely say that this lovely spiced balm will be gracing our lips and it’s a great mini-present with a lovely Christmassy edge.

Lush Chillin with my Gnomies, F8.50 A real indulgence, this comes with two citrusy products for the bath and shower, a Whoosh shower jelly and a Snow Globe soap.

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Just one more ...

The Irish are in deep denial about how much alcohol they drink and the damage it does, says Helen O’Callaghan

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N alcoholic doesn’t take a partner, he takes a hostage, said the partner of one, a comment recalled by Rolande Anderson, a specialist alcohol and addiction counsellor with 30 years’ experience. Anderson has written Living With A Problem Drinker, Your Survival Guide, for people in alcohol-fuelled, unhappy relationships.

A former assistant director of Dublin’s Rutland Centre, Anderson slams the “shocking culture of denial” in the Irish psyche around alcohol. “There’s the public attitude that it’s great ‘craic,’ that there are great ‘war stories’ to be told out of being out of your face drunk. Then there’s the private attitude — ‘did you see so-and-so making a show of himself?’ This ‘go on, go on’ culture is so prevalent that people who are in recovery from alcoholism need to have a script ready at functions, because they’re told ‘you’re a dry stick, you’re no fun, just have the one’. It’s completely rude, inappropriate behaviour,” he says.

Anderson says six to 10% of the Irish drinking population are alcohol-dependent; 20% are involved in harmful drinking (causing damage to physical and mental health); and 30% are at the hazardous stage (where if present drinking consumption or patterns persist, it will cause harm). A spokesperson for Al-Anon — the support organisation for those whose lives are being or have been affected by someone else’s drinking — says every alcoholic damages at least five other people around them.

For the partner of a problem-drinker, life can be hellish. “A big issue for the partner is ‘does he or she drink because of the way I am?’ The partner internalises that guilt very deeply. They have to deal with the inconsistencies, the promises after a big row that it won’t happen again, the period of calm before it all rears up again. They fear for how their children will be affected. They worry the drinker may lose his job,” he says.

It’s a fraught existence, as the partner covers for the alco-

HOSTAGE TO DRINK: partners of alcoholics can become carers, covering for Picture: Getty bad behaviour. holic. “The partner will do her best to contain the problem. They call the drinker’s workplace to lie for him and he has the flu.

They get to the post first, so they can cancel any social invitations, thus preventing a drinking opportunity. They take responsibility for the drinker’s bad behaviour. They apologise,” he says.

Dr Anderson is wary about using the term ‘co-dependence’ to describe the dynamic between drinker and partner. Co-dependence has mostly been used to describe female partners, Anderson points out, adding that many writers on the subject often ignore the practical realities for women — the fact that they’re dependent on the drinker’s income or that they’re often the main carers of children.

Rutland Centre clinical director, Dr Fiona Weldon, points to Irish pride. “It’s a good thing — but the flip side is we struggle to acknowledge if our partner has a drink problem. We think we have to deal with it ourselves. Partners tend to withdraw from friendships and social life to cover up the shame. They isolate themselves,” she says.

According to the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016, 54% of our adult population are binge drinkers. “Binge-drinking’s very much our pattern, and, because we’re not doing it all the time, we tend to minimise its effect.

Yet binge-drinking is equally, if not more, damaging to the liver than drinking small amounts every day,” says Weldon, who de-

scribes addiction as a family problem that takes over a household. While children of problem-drinkers may step into adult roles, taking on responsibilities and worries, partners may become carers.

“When it comes to alcohol-induced physical damage, people immediately think of the liver, but the brain’s also damaged by binge-drinking and long-term use of alcohol.

The brain’s frontal lobe — which regulates a lot of our behaviour, our attentional processes, our ability to plan — is particularly affected. Damage to the frontal lobe can mean personality change and aggression. If your partner has drunk to the point where brain damage and cognitive impairment has set in, you can end up almost caring for them.”

What can you do if your partner has a drink problem? Dealing with it isn’t a single event but a process, says Anderson. “Recognise there’s a problem and that it’s an alcohol problem. Get over the shame. Confide in a trusted family friend, GP or practice nurse.

Get help from a professional counsellor around steps you can take to make the situation even slightly easier — this may mean taking a break or getting legal/financial advice. Stop covering up the problem, but be careful about your own personal safety.”

■ Living With A Problem Drinker, by Rolande Anderson, F9.50.

Www.al-anon-ireland.org

This ‘go on, go on’ culture is so prevalent that people who are in recovery from alcoholism need to have a script ready at functions because they’re told ‘you’re a dry stick, you’re no fun, just have the one’ Feelgood

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2010

Living with a problem drinker ■ “I’ve tried everything to make things better in our lives. I’ve been cross and I’ve been overly compliant. I’ve ignored abusive remarks and I’ve been silent. I’ve screamed at him, threatened him, bribed him, manipulated him. I’ve refused to sleep with him and I’ve slept with him when he is rotten with drink. I’ve drunk with him. I’ve refused to drink with him.

I’ve tried to reduce his intake. I’ve watered down bottles. I’ve locked him in the house and I’ve given him free rein to come and go as he pleases. Nothing has worked. Where do I go from here? I am going stark raving mad.” (Partner in the early days of seeking help).

■ “I became totally obsessed — my only goal in life was to try to stop her from drinking. I suffered dreadfully and neglected myself completely. I had high blood pressure, headaches and was full of anxiety and fear.” (Partner whose own health suffered).

■ My husband’s a shocking drunk. He was and is always cruel to me. He is no longer capable of physical violence, though I am, and I regret that sometimes I take out my frustrations on him. He sits in the same chair in the sitting room, day in and day out, and orders alcohol by phone and has it delivered by taxi if I’m not around. I’m utterly resigned to my way of life and I don’t even try to stop him drinking these days.” (65-year-old female partner).

Case studies from Living With A Problem Drinker

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Psychology In the face of unimaginable suffering and fear, all we can do is offer compassion and love

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From the heart Tony Humphreys

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N The Road Less Travelled, Scott Peck starts the book with the line: “Life is difficult”. I recall my response to this statement was: “Life is challenging, not always difficult, indeed, sometimes, joyful, mystical and transcendent”.

But is it not also a reflection of the reality of human living to say that everyone suffers?

As children, we suffer harshness, irritability, aggression, violence, sexual abuse, put-downs, abandonment, ostracism, bullying, passivity, injustice, being labelled, ignored, exiled, demeaned and lessened. The responses to these sad experiences is to become fearful, depressed, withdrawn, delusional, perfectionist, addicted, compulsive, controlling, rebellious and passive. Unless resolved, we bring our defensive responses to suffering into our adulthood and, sadly, in turn bring suffering to others.

In the presence of suffering, nothing works except compassion. Nothing is effective in the presence of emotional pain except kindness and in the presence of fear nothing else can be offered except love. These are the only responses that create the possibility of healing the emotional wounds.

We cannot legislate for love, compassion and heart-rending.

The legislation needs to emerge from the inside as a conscious experience of what suffering is. However, we don’t tend to see things as they are, we see them as we are. It is not what people say that we need to hear, but what they’re not saying. Similarly, it is not what people do that we need to see, but what they don’t do. The hardest task is to be genuine, authentic, real and spontaneous. Sometimes, great emotional suffering makes us honest as does a life-threatening illness. It is sad that sometimes individuals need to go to such extremes — albeit unconsciously — before they can be real.

Each time we are kind, gentle and encouraging, each time we try to understand, we provide the opportunity for new hope for those who are suffering and the possibility of finding new, real ways of living.

When it comes to considering the terrible suffering of the mother of the two murdered children in Ballycotton and those close to the children and women murdered in Newcastlewest, the hearts of most people are deeply touched and they struggle to know what to do in the face of such terrible tragedies. Indeed, words cannot even remotely describe the unbearable suffering for the family members left to grieve the deceased.

A numbing silence enveloped both communities, plainly showing and identifying with the suffering of the bereaved family members. This response is fitting. The family members’ suffering needs to be ours. Their pain is ours. Their fear and utter confusion is ours. When we feel this way we respond with compassion, kindness and love. A greater challenge is to find in our hearts kindness and compassion for the tortured fathers who perpetrated the murders and for their relatives left holding the awfulness of these men’s actions.

I have no doubt that individuals must be struggling with how to respond adequately to such unendurable suffering. I was asked what do you say to children when they become aware of terrible events or who knew the children who were recently murdered.

With children we need to hold them tenderly and allow

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IN MEMORY: Flowers outside the Butler family home in Ballycotton. Most people struggle to know what to do in the face of such terrible tragedies.

Picture: Dan Linehan

Nothing is effective in the presence of emotional pain except kindness and in the presence of fear nothing else can be offered except love them express what they are feeling and thinking and to be honest in our responses to their questions. With the adults who have been so devastatingly bereaved, we can offer love, compassion, understanding and kindness, but these responses need to be extended into the future for there is no recovering from such losses.

People need to be supported and listened to in learning to live with such intolerable sorrow. It is not a time to be asking the deep ‘why’ questions, not a time for judgement. In many ways, these questions need to occupy the minds and hearts of the healthcare professionals involved. This quest for understanding needs to be done by us in the caring professions with a recognition and compassion for our own suffering and the determination to learn from such terrible events.

The life quest of the Buddha was to put an end to suffering, but while suffering can be reduced, it can never end.

Suffering is part of our nature, it brings attention to where love and kindness is absent and it draws attention to the need for the restoration of love and kindness. When children suffer and die because of the unresolved suffering of adults, it behoves all of us to practise loving kindness.

Dr Tony Humphreys practices as a clinical psychologist, author and international speaker. His book (with co-author Helen Ruddle), The Compassionate Intentions of Illness is relevant to this article.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2010

A DIFFERENT VIEW ON LIFESTYLE Your guide to fitness, health, happiness and lifestyle.

Great writers and mentors.

Where you come first.

Phone: NIAMH O’CONNELL Tel. 021-4802215 Fax 021-4273846 niamhoconnell@examiner.ie

Every Friday.

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Write stuff: true spirit of Christmas

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Maeve Binchy

Joseph O’Connor

WHEN the miserable Scrooge is visited by ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, he is forced to see the error of his un-Christian ways and begins to understand what the spirit of Christmas is really about — a celebration of the gift of love. We asked four of our own best-known and loved authors to tell us what Christmas means to them — what they love about the season, the childhood memories it evokes and why it’s important to reach out to others.

— Arlene Harris

WHEN I was in my 20s Christmas meant nothing, perhaps because it brought back memories of an unhappy childhood. It’s a time of year when the past feels very close to us.

So unfortunately, I don’t have many happy memories of Christmas in my childhood.

When a marriage is in trouble, big occasions cause the cracks to widen — and I try to remember that with an adult’s understanding.

My parents did their best for us at Christmas, but they weren’t happy together, and the atmosphere in the house could be turbulent.

I do have one memory I find deeply touching, however. One Christmas when I was a child, my parents didn’t have much money, and my father, as well as doing his work during the day, got a night-job delivering letters and parcels for the post office so as to earn a little extra for us.

He’s a wonderful man.

“My parents did their best for us at Christmas, but they weren’t happy together, and the atmosphere in the house could be turbulent” Picture: Lensmen

I HAVE always loved Christmas, and still do. Christmas trees in people’s windows are cheering, the excitement of children everywhere is infectious and it gives us a goal to aim for a happy holiday with family and friends.

I have no time for those who complain that Christmas is a commercial racket, a device to squeeze more spending out of hard-pressed people. The Scrooge spirit will come out if it’s encouraged. I try to beat it back.

Christmas is a religious celebration for many and a happy holiday for the rest of us. It’s up to us to make it a good or a bad time.

I would sum up the spirit of Christmas as a feeling of goodwill, celebration, relief

“I have never regarded anything Christmassy as a duty or a ritual or a commercial exploitation”

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that we have all survived another year and a chance to catch up with friends and family. I have never regarded anything Christmassy as a duty or a ritual or a commercial exploitation.

When we were young we were all totally overexcited at the thought of Christmas, and the day itself was a busy one.

My mother used to invite anyone who might possibly be lonely to join us and the house was often full of what looked like ill assorted people, but they all enjoyed the day. I remember my parents sitting by the fire year after year saying truthfully: “Well that day went very well”.

And they were right each time.

It would be pompous of me to send a Christmas message to the world but I would say to anyone who might listen that Christmas isn’t infinite, we are not going to have a hundred more of them, so let us try to be peaceful and hopeful and celebrate friendship and love without grizzling and complaining about how this happy holiday has been hijacked by commercialism. It only is that way if we let it be that way.

■ Maeve Binchy’s latest book — Minding Frankie is out now. Visit www.maevebinchy.com

But after I married and became a father, it came to be a joyful and peaceful time.

We’ve never gone overboard with barrow-loads of presents and massive eating, although we have spent two Christmases as a family away from home in New York, and over there they go to town on it. The neon delirium of Times Square on Christmas Eve is a memorable sight.

And Christmas is the only time of the year when it’s all right to be materialistic — but only if you’re doing it for somebody else.

I think people have been moaning for a very long time about how the traditional spirit of Christmas has been lost. This probably started the very moment the wise men arrived in the manger with the gifts. One of the shepherds turned to another and said “Look at that terrible materialism. In my day, we had nothing. And do you know what — we were a lot better off.”

But for some people, having a good auld moan about the loss of the Christmas spirit is their Christmas treat, and I respect their right to enjoy themselves.

I don’t know that I have any message the world would find useful. But someone once said to me on a Christmas Eve: “Learn to forgive. It makes you free.” And that’s true.

■ Joseph O’Connor’s acclaimed novel Ghost Light was an international bestseller this year. The Drivetime Diaries, a CD of his radio columns for RTE, has recently been released

Picture: Billy Higgins

Picture: iStock

Cathy Kelly CHRISTMAS is a wraparound family time for me, as I have twin sons of seven. I adore the whole season as it’s almost the only time you can really turn off phones and retreat totally with your family.

We get wildly into it by early December (I have to stop myself putting up decorations in November) and by Christmas, the whole house is awash with decorations. I am into the whole Swedish red and white look.

When my sons are older, I’d love to spend a Christmas at one of the homeless shelters giving out Christmas dinners — to remember in real terms what life is like for other people. When we’re snug in our house and the wind is howling outside, I think of those poor kids who are on the streets, trying to find a bit of warmth in a doorway; or someone who’s wrapped in a box in the cold because addiction has gripped them and they’ve been

thrown out of home.

We always give to St Vincent de Paul and the homeless charities at Christmas. We are so lucky and we appreciate that.

For kids, Christmas is about Santa, which is marvellous fun. I love leaving out carrots for Rudolf and seeing how much he’s nibbled in the morning.

When I was a child, we used to drive to my grandmother’s house in the West every Christmas. I can remember the high excitement of us all squashing into a small car, with dog, and the floor jammed with stuff.

And I adored it if I got my hands on a television guide because I loved watching Christmas films — I used to sob regularly through the whole three hours of Gone with the Wind.

But, in my opinion, Christmas for grown-ups, is about thinking of other people — and not just in presents.

■ Cathy’s 12th novel, Homecoming, is out now.

Deirdre Purcell CHRISTMAS means magic. Anyone who knows me knows that I retain my childhood excitement — I enjoy the hassle, the aching feet, the traffic jams and the sticky tape that winds itself all around your hands when you’re trying to wrap.

I love the sight of our Christmas tree in danger of toppling under its excess of glitter and baubles of sentimental value — I even enjoy the garishness of over-decorated supermarkets and secretly hum along with their cliched, distorted seasonal music.

I have wonderful childhood memories of Christmas. And very few people would believe this, but Santa Claus did not stop coming to me until I was 13 years old. I remember going outside to the front garden of our house in Ballymun with my father to hear the sleigh bells. I concentrated like he told me and definitely heard them, far away behind the skyful of stars, like the tinging of a spoon on a crystal glass.

I remember the steamy kitchen where the puddings boiled under their muslin caps while the air was infused with the smells of onions

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2010

Picture: Des Barry

and herbs being chopped into the breadcrumbs for the stuffing.

I also remember privately sorrowing over the plight of the sightless turkey hanging upside down in the passageway outside our back door. And, after my first term in my Co Mayo

boarding school, I remember the train puffing slowly into Westland Row (now Pearse) station when, as it passed my small family waiting on the platform for me, I thought my heart would burst.

It definitely is a special time of the year and I think that no matter how stressed the lead-in to the great day, something amazing happens on Christmas Eve: strangers say hello and hold doors open, men with grumpy expressions smile — and the whole of Ireland looks forward instead of back. In fact, Christmas Eve is such a festival of hope, that the day itself can be anti-climactic.

Despite this, it is my experience that we all make special efforts to be nice, to forget the coming bills and to remember those who are suffering, lonely or deprived.

So put away the cynicism and celebrate the annual gift of the season: remember the lonely, in particular, dispense with the contagion of bitter and harsh words and, above all, accept that every single person in every nation has a right to his or her dreams.

■ Deirdre Purcell’s latest novel, Pearl, is out now

“I remember going outside to the front garden of our house in Ballymun with my father to hear the sleigh bells. I concentrated like he told me and definitely heard them, far away behind the skyful of stars, like the tinging of a spoon on a crystal glass”

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10 Medical matters

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Q

My 12-year-old son loves playing sport and takes a lot of energy drinks. He says they give him energy before and after playing. But I would like to know how much is too much of these drinks and are they safe for children?

Dr Niamh Houston

FAMILY

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

A. With a reputation for relieving fatigue and improving physical performance, energy drinks have become wildly popular among children and adults in recent years.

The most important active ingredient in these drinks is caffeine, which in moderate amounts has been shown to have positive health benefits. However the high amounts in energy drinks and the many variations of “natural substances” found in these products is untested in children.

Moderate doses of caffeine can improve concentration and physical endurance in adults. High doses can cause anxiety, agitation, sleeplessness, irregular heart rhythm and stomach upset.

A 6oz cup of brewed coffee has between 80 and 150mg of caffeine, a standard can of coca-cola has about 35mg of caffeine. But caffeine levels in energy drinks vary widely from 50 to 500mg per product. The recommended limit on caffeine content of soft drinks is 71mg for a 12oz can.

Energy drinks contain water, electrolytes and sugar. These simple components are critical for hydration, especially in extreme conditions, for example, during athletics and hot weather. But in children these requirements are unlikely and the potential risks outweigh the benefits. Energy drinks contain very few nutrients and the high sugar content means lots of calories.

The dependence on caffeine may lead children and teenagers to drink more of these energy drinks or fizzy drinks, leading to excess weight gains.

Also of concern is that the caffeine and other stimulants found in energy drinks — for example, guarana, evodiamine and N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine yohimbine HCL — can have similar effects on the brain’s neurotransmitters as other drugs of abuse. Adolescents and young adults are more vulnerable to addictions because their memory and reward centres in the brain are underdeveloped.

Aggressive marketing campaigns often target teens who are more likely to become long-term users of these products.

The take-home message is that energy drinks should be avoided in children, espe-

TIME OUT: Children should avoid energy drinks, especially those with a high caffeine content.

Picture: Getty cially those with a high caffeine content.

Sports drinks are appropriate during athletics and strenuous physical activity, but should not be consumed in excess. Most energy drinks do not work but have delivered huge profits for the manufacturers.

Q. I have heard that a supplement called SAMe can be used to treat depression. Can this be used with prescribed antidepressants and what dosage is advised?

A. SAMe stands for S-adenosyl- L-methionine and is a compound produced in the liver. It is used throughout the body in a chemical process called methylation which is one of the last steps in the production of the brain chemicals serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline (which regulate mood).

People with depression often have low levels of these brain chemicals, and SAMe slows the breakdown of these neurotransmitters, allowing them to work longer.

There are no foods that have high levels of SAMe and our livers create it from the

amino acid — methionine. While methionine is found in many foods, supplementing with this does not work as well for people with depression as supplementing with SAMe. It appears that SAMe works well for people with mild depressive symptoms, rather than people with more severe major depression. In the available research on treating depression, the positive effects of SAMe have been impressive. But these studies have been small and more research is needed before it can be recommended as a standard treatment for depression, and also to determine its interactions with other medications including prescription antidepressants.

The typical dose for SAMe is between 800mg/day and 1600mg/day. It should not be taken by people with bipolar disorder as SAMe has been suspected to cause manic episodes.

The main side effects of SAMe are gastrointestinal or stomach upset. If you decide to take SAMe, or any other supplements talk to your doctor first.

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

Catherine Shanahan MUM’S WORLD Feelgood

LIKE Wallace without Gromit or Shaggy sans Scooby-Doo, the only child must draw on his or her own resources to rebuff cursing were-rabbits and hold demons at bay.

As first and last man standing, this child needs a king-size imagination in order to survive. Alone perhaps because his or her parents recognise that to have an only child is not a crime, he or she nonetheless spends considerable time batting against automatic stigmatisation. Neither a self-absorbed narcissist, a total loner or a spoilt brat, this child can play, share, partake and entertain with no less panache than a family of von Trapp’s and with a great deal less clamour.

These children are largely of the opinion that parents did not ruin their lives by failing to supply a sibling and may even enjoy the undivided attention of Only Child Syndrome (OCS) — a hypothesis recently backed by the orderly facts of social science.

According to the findings of a British study tracking the lives of 100,000 people, single children may appear more confident and content because they do not have to deal with sibling bullying. Researchers explained the trend by citing inter-sibling rivalry for parents’ attention as well as the irritation from having to share belongings.

The study found happiness is not positively

linked to number of brothers and sisters and it debunked the notion that single children tend to be lonely — a finding my mother takes issue with.

As an only child herself she frequently laments the lack of a sibling. There was no one at home of her age to play with. She grew up at the grown-ups’ table where manners were probably impeccable but high-jinks notably absent.

Where the study is bang on the money is the issue of sibling bullying and sibling rivalry. I cannot side with one child over the other for fear of an Arctic-size meltdown.

“IT’S NOT FAIR MAMMY, JUST BECAUSE SHE’S A GIRL.” is a frequent mantra. Or “SHE’S NOT A BABY, SHE’S TWO AND SHE TOOK MY STANLEY.” Berating the boy for acting the bully is straightforward. He stands there and listens, shrugs when I’m finished and does the same thing all over. The girl is far trickier and chastising her requires diplomacy. The ‘only child’ study said quarrelling siblings increase stress for parents and that some just give up intervening, leaving the field wide up for bullying. This finding is labelled “anecdotal” but it’s hardly a revelation: squabbling siblings equals stress and we don’t need a study to prove it.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2010

According to the findings of a British study tracking the lives of 100,000 people, single children may appear more confident and content because they do not have to deal with sibling bullying

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The miracle man Liam Burke was diagnosed with terminal cancer, but believes a miracle has saved him, Arlene Harris reports

“My oncologist believes I am in remission and that I am in denial of the severity of my illness”

E

ARLY last year Liam Burke began suffering from severe migraines and, after six weeks of persistent pain, visited his doctor who sent him for an MRI. Hours later, the Limerick man was transported by ambulance to Cork University Hospital — the scan had revealed a suspect tumour on his brain.

Although doctors believed that it was 99% likely to be benign, four days later the photo-journalist was told he had fallen into the unfortunate 1% bracket and was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma of the central nervous system.

He was given months to live.

But the 54-year-old has defied medical logic by apparently conquering the disease, and almost two years after his initial diagnosis is looking forward to the future.

“After undergoing an operation to remove the tumour in February 2009, I was given the devastating news that the cancer was malignant,” he recalls. “So I began a 19-week programme of chemo and radiation therapy in a bid to eradicate the disease.”

Weekly sessions alternated between chemotherapy, radiotherapy and lumbar punctures, and although gruelling, Liam persevered in the hope that a cure would be found. But more bad news lay ahead.

“After eight weeks of treatment, more lymphoma was found in my spinal fluid and my oncologist said it would be advisable to stop all treatment and move me to palliative care, It was a terrible time for me, my partner

THE CURE: Liam Burke, right, in Brazil last year with healer Joao de Deus.

Pauline and my children Sean (21) and Liz (18).”

“I sank into a severe depression which I know really affected everyone around me. So, after a few days, I decided to pull myself together and reasoned that only God could decide when my life was over.”

With this new-found positive attitude, Liam began to focus on using his faith to help him cope with this serious illness.

FAMILY TIES: Liam Burke with his daughter Liz and son Sam prior to going to Brazil.

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11

“I have never been a huge mass-goer but I have always had great faith,” he says. “So I turned my back on despair and concentrated on praying for a more optimistic future.”

It was during this time that he was given a book about an extraordinary healer in South America and decided to put all of his efforts into visiting this man, a medium named Joao de Deus.

“I had seen a documentary a few years ago about Joao, who is commonly referred to as ‘John of God’,” says Liam, who also works as a volunteer for Concern. “But I had forgotten about him until the moment the book was put into my hands. As soon as I saw it I knew that I had to go and see him — I didn’t know what I would achieve, but it was vital that I got to Brazil.”

Using a combination of savings and financial help from family and friends, Liam and Pauline made the arduous trip to the small village of Abadamia in Brazil in July 2009 where they would spend a fortnight and hopefully get to meet the man himself.

“I had no expectation of being cured, but I was convinced that this would be a life-changing experience and I prayed that I would be worthy of being allowed some more time with my family.”

‘Saint John of God’ has been healing for over 20 years and all visits to him are free of charge. So when Liam arrived in the Brazilian village he found hundreds of other pilgrims hoping to change their fate.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2010

“There were loads of people waiting to see Joao and when I reached the top of the queue, he could see I was ill and told his interpreter to tell me to come back later and join the queue for healing,” Liam recalls.

“So I queued up from 2pm until 4pm and after a couple of seconds in front of him he wrote a prescription for passion flower herbs on a piece of paper and told me to go and rest for 24 hours.

“But as I was taking eight steroids a day and was getting by on two hours sleep, I didn’t imagine I would get much rest — but as soon as my head touched the pillow I fell into a deep sleep for 22 hours.”

During the rest of his stay, he spent the time resting and reading with Pauline as his companion.

The South American medium also does distance healing so before he left, Liam decided to show him a photo of a sick relative.

“I queued up to see him again and out of respect I knelt down on one knee,” he says.

“But for some reason I couldn’t get back up again and this was when he put out his hand and pulled me to my feet saying ‘come up, you will get better’. At this point I burst into tears and knew that a miracle had just happened.”

Liam and Pauline returned to Ireland where (in September 2009) he finished his treatment and, three days later felt so well that he flew to Sudan to do some volunteer work for Concern. “I couldn’t believe how good I was feeling,” he says. “Although I had lost a lot of weight and muscle over the year, I was now 100% healthy and ready to go back to my normal life.”

(His relative who had benzene poisoning following years as an oil-tanker driver, is now in good health.)

Considering his doctors had given Liam months to live and prescribed palliative care, were they also convinced by this apparently miraculous cure? “My oncologist has a policy of being brutally honest, whether you are capable of dealing with it or not,” says Liam.

“He believes I am in remission and has said to Pauline that I am in denial of the severity of my illness. But I don’t mind if people are critical of my faith, I did what was right for me and I am now relishing my life and enjoying every day I have — whether it’s six months, six years or 20 years — at the end of the day, God is the one who will decide.”

■ Liam Burke’s story is on Would You Believe, RTÉ One, this Sunday at 10.30pm ■ For more information on Joao visit www.friendsofthecasa.info.com

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12 Food survey

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Cracking good start to the day I

N IRELAND we spend a whopping F79 million a year on eggs and over the past year our consumption has climbed by 5%. Perhaps we have got sense at last and appreciate what good value eggs are in terms of nutrition. They also come neatly packaged, travel a few miles from hen to table and can be turned into a substantial meal in minutes.

A fried or poached egg on brown toast with some canned beans is a powerhouse of nutrients.

In my experience all eggs suffer greatly when they are left for more than a week and I watch sell-by dates and buy no less than three weeks from them. Best-before dates for eggs, required by EU directive, mean no more than a four-week period from laying.

Freshness is the key and even the best organic eggs deteriorate in time. They will still be edible, but their texture becomes less elastic and the white becomes so weak that the yolk will burst out of the white when frying. It’s difficult to believe that their nutritional value could be the same with time.

A colourful yolk doesn’t always mean good quality either, as the feed given to some hens can turn their yolks orange. It’s a good sign when shells are difficult to crack. Some eggs crack too easily and pierce the yolk before reaching the pan. To test eggs at home, fry them and see how proud they sit up in the pan. A strong white and yolk come from a healthy, fresh egg.

The texture of the yolk will be creamy and rich and the white substantial.

If you find your meringues are not whipping to a stiff texture it may be the quality or age of the eggs that are at fault.

For this feature I fried all four samples which were early on in the period to best-

Country Pastures Organic Eggs 4 medium eggs F2.21 (55c each) Not only are these hens given organic feed, free from chemicals, but they are also free range. Watch for two organic symbols. IOFGA, the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers has a green symbol of three rings interlocking. The other is the Organic Trust which has a black background with two leaf shapes with a black oval in the centre. This means the hens must have access to grassland which is free of chemical fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides. They must also have adequate living space and bedding.

These organisations police organic producers.

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Roz Crowley before dates. All four were easy to crack, quite weak and thin-shelled. They behaved the same as each other in the pan, moderately firm and felt quite creamy with a rich taste. In a blind tasting I would not have known the difference between each. Their colours ranged from light yellow to orange. I expected greater variation as prices differ.

By contrast, the eggs I receive from my neighbours who keep hens in their garden are discernibly more tasty and have a richer texture and colour. They attribute this to their varied diet of basic organic pellets supplemented with pecking at bread (which they love) and bits of rocks and stones around the garden which gives them extra minerals. On top of this they enjoy exercising every day.

This is often echoed in eggs bought at country markets, but not consistently. You still have ask each producer and always check for freshness.

To be sure of quality, it may be a good idea to join the growing band of homeowners who keep hens for their own supply. Most hens will produce an egg a day (with some seasonal breaks) for at least two years — great value when a hen costs between F7.50 and F15.

Free Range Eggs Free Range Eggs (Riverview) 6 large eggs F2.15 (35c each) Free range means the hens are allowed to roam freely outside their coop and have some space indoors in which to exercise themselves. They do not necessarily avail of the outdoor facility in winter as they do not like the cold and their feed is not governed by a particular mix. In Ireland the Irish Free Range Egg Producers Association aims to keep up standards and it is worth watching for their guarantee on cartons.

DATE WATCH: Even the best organic eggs deteriorate in time.

Pictures: Denis Minihane

An egg a day really is good for you NUTRITIONALLY eggs provide us with a wide range of vitamins and minerals and over 6g of protein to sustain us for the day. An egg has 75 calories, 59 in the yolk, 17 in the white.

The greatest quantity of vitamins are found in the yolk, especially A, D and E. Vitamin B12 and folic acid, along with niacin, pantothenic acid, riboflavin and thiamine, though the white does contain some too. These all help with general health, particularly the eyes, brain and nervous system. Minerals include

Mega Egg (Country Pastures) 6 large eggs F2.62 (43c each) Hens are given feed fortified usually with fish oil, but also from linseed oil which increase the amount of omega 3 oils in the egg. The hens are also fed Vitamin E and organic selenium which is another antioxidant. The logic is that healthy hens produce healthy eggs. I tried this type of egg when they were first launched and they were far superior to many eggs available then.

This time there was no contrast.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2010

calcium (mostly in the yolk), essential for growth and choline (in the white) which is good for metabolising fat.

The fats, linolenic, linoleic, oleic, saturated and monounsaturated, are found in the yolk. This means that the cholesterol at 213mg is all in the yolk along with lecithin, which helps prevent heart disease.

The Irish Heart Foundation endorses the message of An Egg a Day is OK which features in Bord Bia’s national advertising campaign.

Upton Eggs 6 large F1.50 (25c each) An estimated 68% of the two million laying hens in Ireland are kept in cages which are due to be outlawed by 2012.

They will be replaced with cages which allow the hens to have some scratching space and a perch. However, the space will still be too small for them to stretch out their wings fully. This type of egg can be called Farm Fresh, Premium Fresh, or have no description. Barn or perchery eggs come from hens which have perches and nest boxes, but have no requirement to have large spaces around them.

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Male health

Breaking the habit F

ORMER Munster and Irish International rugby player Mick Galwey is encouraging smokers to get help to quit the habit. Ninety per cent of smokers believe they are addicted, or would find it very hard to quit smoking, according to recent research commissioned by Pfizer.

“I never smoked and am very glad for that,” says Galwey. “As a sportsperson, we are constantly reminded of the importance of health and fitness to reach your full potential.

Smoking can really hold you back from achieving that potential; it affects your ability to be as good a sportsperson as you can be. If you smoke it’s never too early to stop and improve your health.”

In Ireland, it is estimated that 7,000 people die from tobacco use every year, costing millions of euro to the healthcare system for treating tobacco-related illnesses. Smokers have an increased risk of cancers, heart disease, strokes, low birth weight and many other diseases. Smoking is also the most important preventable cause of illness and death and

Deirdre O'Flynn MOSTLY MEN TACKLE IT: Rugby legend Mick Galwey pictured with model Aoife Cogan promoting the need to quit smoking — a leading cause of illness and death.

Picture: Patrick Bolger

can result in people losing an average of 10-15 years from their life expectancy.

Pfizer research also found that smokers have actively tried to quit a number of times, with current smokers citing an average of almost four (3.95) quit attempts. “Many smokers recognise the harmful effects of smoking and want to stop, but stopping smoking is a very difficult thing to do and can often take several attempts,” says Dr Ronan Donohoe, a

Dublin-based GP. “Getting help from a doctor or other healthcare professional can double a person’s chances of beating nicotine addiction.”

Such help is vital to avoid serious illness.

Smokers are four times more likely to suffer a stroke than the non-smoking adult population, according to the Irish Heart Foundation. The good news is that if people stop smoking, the risk of stroke begins to

Prostate cancer rates of survival increase

Campaign urges people to watch out for a knock out

PROSTATE cancer survival rates in Ireland have increased by 10% over five years from 2001 to 2006.

Data from the National Cancer Registry of Ireland released by the Irish Cancer Society show that in 2001, 77% of men in Ireland diagnosed with prostate cancer survived for five years or more and new figures for 2006 shows that this has increased to 87%.

WATCH out for a knock-out, say Acquired Brain Injury Ireland as they urge all involved in sport to play safe. The Mind Your Head campaign, launched by Ireland rugby player Isaac Boss, pictured, seeks to raise awareness of the serious consequences players will endure if they insist on continued play following a concussion or “blow to the head”.

“I don’t know how many times I have heard a player say ‘I’m grand, it was just a knock’,” says Barbara O’ Connell. “These ‘knocks’ are in fact mild

TAKE 1

The Irish Cancer Society’s Cancer Information Service (CIS) offers advice, information and support to anyone concerned or affected about prostate or any cancer.

This service incorporates the National Cancer Helpline (Freefone 1800 200 700: open Mon–Thurs, 9am–7pm and Fri 9am–5pm), email (helpline@cancer.ie), live chat on www.cancer.ie and a ‘walk-in’ caller service.

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ECO BEAUTY: We all want to look good for the party season, but why feed your skin with harsh artificial colours and a cocktail of synthetic chemicals that clog the pores and can cause dry patches and skin irritations, ask Green People? The natural beauty brand has just expanded its organic mineral make-up range with a new eye trio, blusher and mascara.

The Eco Eye Trio comes in Smokey Grey, Aqua and Plum, F27.30; while the mascara, F16.55 contains natural shea butter and almond oil.

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fall almost immediately and in most cases can eventually be reduced to that of a non-smoker. Within 20 minutes, blood pressure drops to the level it was before the last cigarette.

After eight hours, carbon monoxide levels in the blood return to normal. After one to two months, smoking-related stroke risk due to excessive clotting is normalised. And within five years, stroke risk for most people is the same as lifelong non-smokers.

DId you know...

One in five fathers experience depression before their child turns 12 years old

traumatic brain injuries induced by mechanical forces, that immediately disrupt the normal functioning of the brain.”

Acquired Brain Injury Ireland urge sporting players of all ages and standards, coaches, and parents of young children to remember the importance of wearing protective headgear.

“Headgear is not only a preventative measure in terms of an acquired brain injury, it can also reduce time spent recovering in hospital, and time in rehabilitation.”

(Source: Medical Research Council, UK)

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GENTLE GLOW: Did you know that foundation can harbour up to 24 man-made chemicals and we ingest around 4-6Ibs of lipstick in our lifetime? Green People’s Pressed Mineral Powder, F23.75 is a 3-in-1 foundation, powder with a SPF 15 sunscreen which provides a natural matte finish without clogging pores. The natural minerals used in the powder reflect light creating a soft glow on the skin.

Green People’s Cherry lipstick, F13, has a hint of shimmer and a mild minty flavour. It is suitable for all skin types and is now available in selected health stores and at www.naturalselection.ie

FLAWLESS COVERAGE: If you prefer a liquid foundation, take a look at Annemarie Borlind Fluid Make-Up, F18.51 for 30ml. This light-reflecting formula is designed to make skin tones appear more even. It contains hyaluronic acid to help skin retain moisture and algae extract to stimulate cell renewal for a natural-looking complexion and all-day coverage. This German brand offers a range of cosmetics made with mineral colour pigments and are free from animal extracts, etc.

Available in health stores and at naturalselection.ie.

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NATURAL COLOUR: Gorgeous plums, flaming coppers, or rich auburns, the hottest hues for hair right now are red. If you are thinking party hair, check out the Daniel Field Natural Colours range which comes in 23 shades. Free from ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, parablens or artificial fragrance, this non-drip, odourless, permanent colour can be used by cancer patients during and after chemotherapy and is also suitable for use during pregnancy, say the manufacturers. Daniel Field Natural Colours cost F10 and available in health stores and at www.breatheonline.ie

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As the Movember movement grows and grows, Deirdre Reynolds asks some celebrity Mo Ambassadors about the long and short of their upper-lip adventures

It’s getting hairy

T

OM SELLECK, Hulk Hogan, Borat, Saddam Hussein or even Hitler.

From sleazy to scary, mustachioed men have suffered something of a mixed fate in the annals of fashion. But if your man is sporting an ’80s rock star look right now — don’t panic. It’s all part of a month-long charity event to raise funds for Action Prostate Cancer.

With facial fuzz sprouting up all over the country, November has officially become ‘Movember’.

Inspired by momentous mos ranging from Einstein’s mad scientist look to Salvador Dali’s offbeat effort, thousands of men here have offered up their upper lip to help change the face of men’s health in Ireland.

And with good reason. Irish men have a one-in-nine chance of developing prostate cancer throughout their lifetime, according to the Irish Cancer Society. In 2008, 2,579 dads, husbands and brothers here were dealt the diagnosis.

Nonetheless, guys are notoriously shy about check-ups, says John McCormack, CEO of the Irish Cancer Society.

“Traditionally, messages about cancer in men have been difficult to communicate,” he says. “So novel opportunities to raise awareness such as this one are especially valuable.

“Movember allows us drive awareness around prostate and other cancers to even more men across the country. It’s wonderful to see such a large, enthusiastic and ever-increasing following.”

The bristly idea began in Australia in 2003 with 30 men cultivating lip shrubbery for the cause. Since then, over a quarter of a million Mo Bros around the world have raised more than F73 by refusing to shave.

And next month, Ireland’s Freddie Mercury look-alikes will battle it out for the prestigious ‘Man of Movember’ prize at the Movember Gala Parté in Dublin.

Conditioner is key, reveals beardy Mo Mentor Senator David Norris. “Men trying to grow a mo should think positively about their upper lip,” jokes the would-be President. “A good barber and conditioner helps too.”

“I shaved off my beard once 35 years ago because my aunt didn’t like it. I thought she’d be thrilled, but she just sniffed: ‘I’d forgotten how insignificant your features are’. Since then, whenever anyone asks me why I have a beard, I tell them it’s to hide a multitude of chins.”

Here, high-profile Mo Ambassadors talk about their ticklish upper lips.

Brendan Courtney, Off the Rails presenter: “This is the first year I’ve taken part in Movember, but I’ve really embraced my new facial fuzz. I call it my ‘Ho-Mo’! At first it was a handlebar ’tache, which has since turned into a beard. I was so relieved that it suits me and it’s a lot lower maintenance than shaving every day. I actually had a moustache once before — in my passport photo I look like a mad gringo.

“I don’t think you’re ever too young to start checking for signs of cancer. Men are three times less likely to check themselves than women — out of male pride or whatever. So Movember is a really important initia-

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MO POWER: Taking part in the Movember moustache growing for prostate cancer are, clockwise from left, Pauric Sweeney, Conor Bereen and Ciaran Walsh.

tive. One elderly lady stopped me in the street to tell me she didn’t like my moustache — so I just told her I didn’t like hers either!

If nothing else, it’ll keep my face warm for winter.”

health too. Unfortunately, I haven’t been blessed with great upper lip hair growth. In 2008, I was given the ‘Lame-Mo’ award for the worst moustache at the end of Movember — so I’m hoping to do a bit better this year.”

Conor Bereen, model and co-owner The South William and Coppinger Row: “This is my third year taking part in Movember and it’s great to see more and more guys getting involved. My brother and business partner Marc and I are both sporting mos and hosting lots of fundraising events. Our dad died of prostate cancer last year, so it’s a cause that’s close to our hearts. Irish men have become much more conscious of their looks in recent years — but it’s just as important to pay attention to your mental and physical

Pauric Sweeney, fashion designer: “I’m taking part in Movember for the first time this year. My father died of prostate cancer many years ago, so it’s something that’s meaningful to me. I’m not sure of its technical name, but my ’tache was inspired by actor Errol Flynn. It sometimes gets bad press, but the moustache will always have a place in fashion. Unfortunately, mine’s gone already.

Any time I’ve attempted to grow one, I panic when it’s in its infancy stage and shave it clean off!”

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Ciaran Walsh, Le Cool Dublin magazine editor: “As a guy, I know how slow we can be to react to health issues — the ‘snail male’ effect. I lost my younger sister Emma to cancer earlier this year. It really brought home the idea that life is far too short and I’m taking part in Movember as a tribute to her. If by simply growing a mo, I can help raise awareness of the disease — that’s a good trade off. I normally sport a short beard, so when my mo first sprouted, it got a few sniggers.

But I’m proud of my hirsute upper lip. I’ve always loved that matinee idol look — my mo is modelled on British actor Ronald Coleman and now I’ve got an excuse for a ‘Ronnie’ of my own. I probably look more like a 1980s Special Branch Garda than a film star with it though.”

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Natural health

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

I have a severe on-going scalp condition. At the beginning my head felt sore but there didn’t appear to be any cut or gash. Sometime after that I noticed a small patch where my hair had disappeared and didn’t grow any more.

Then my scalp (it is confined to the top of my head) became covered with thick white flakes, which never disappear — it’s ugly looking and at times can feel quite sore. I have used all the recommended shampoos, lotions and creams prescribed by my GP and recommended by my pharmacist. I was eventually referred to a specialist who diagnosed alopecia confined to that particular area. I wonder if this scalp condition is as a result of something happening in my body. I also get my hair coloured regularly — I would be very grey otherwise.

A. I am surprised the specialist has diagnosed this as alopecia rather than scalp psoriasis, as it sounds more like the latter from your description. Either way, there are definite measures which can help both conditions equally well.

Your suggestion regarding the condition being an expression of your internal health is spot on — skin conditions such as this are certainly a sign of internal imbalance and potential deficiencies. Vitamin D3 is a good place to start in terms of supplementation, available from local health stores or Here’s Health, (www.hereshealth.ie 021-4278101).

Vitamin D is a hormone and most Irish people have a vitamin D deficiency, thought to be a significant factor in alopecia areata, psoriasis, IBS, diabetes, sleep troubles, asthma, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, gum disease, mood disorders, thyroid imbalance, multiple sclerosis (MS), some cancers, and a decrease in bone density and immune functioning.

In individuals who avoid the sun entirely, supplementation with at least 4,000IU of vitamin D3 daily is required. Some practitioners suggest as much as 10,000IU. Spending 20-30 minutes in strong sunlight without any form of sunscreen will typically produce around 20,000IU of vitamin D — which can be stored by the body to be used when necessary. Unfortunately, it is not always possible for people to spend this much time in the sun without some form of protection, so a supplement may be a better way to get this hormone.

Colouring your hair will not help, particularly if you are using conventional hair colourants. I would suggest that you either choose a plant-based hair colouring nutrient such as henna, or a relatively safe colour system such as Tints of Nature, which carry a range of 22 colours without ammonia or resorcinol. Although they do contain PPD (paraphenylenediamine) and peroxide, they use the lowest possible levels — the PPD is less than 1% (usually 3-6% in commercial products), and the peroxide is pharmaceutical

HEADS UP: A number of scalp conditions are caused by a lack of vitamin D. grade (used in mouthwash and eardrops).

This range also contains vitamins and organic ingredients, such as orange, chamomile, grapefruit, aloe vera and comfrey, to naturally condition the hair. To find your local stockist, phone 0044-1590613490 or visit www.herbuk.co.uk for more information (there is also an organic range for salon professionals).

Q. Please advise if it is possible to treat lupus with natural alternatives. Also, could you recommend a practitioner with expertise in this area?

A. An autoimmune disorder where the immune system becomes overactive and attacks healthy tissue, lupus can indeed be treated using natural alternatives. Lupus can occur at any age, and in either sex, although 90% of people with lupus are women.

The symptoms experienced vary widely due to individual differences and the type of lupus present. Symptoms typically include aching and swollen joints, persistent fever, severe fatigue, skin rashes, chest pain, iron-deficiency, hair loss, sensitivity to sunlight, pale white or blue fingers in colder weather, mouth and nose ulcers, and seizures. Conventional treatment usually involves steroids to suppress immune activity.

Many people find their symptoms improve when they adopt a vegetarian diet. It is common for lupus sufferers to be intolerant of dairy products, particularly those containing casein, since it stimulates the immune system. Other foods which can worsen symptoms include alfalfa, peanuts,

Megan puts the spotlight on: IF you are reading this, chances are you value your rights to access natural medicines and supplements, such as herbs, vitamins, and minerals.

Currently, the European Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive, (which came into play on March 31, 2004), already limits a number of herbal products by requiring that they meet conventional pharmaceutical standards — which is either not applicable or prohibitively expensive to carry out in almost all cases.

The Alliance for Natural Health (ANH) is working hard to prevent this Directive from becoming even more

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restrictive when the seven-year transition phase expires on March 31, 2011.

Up until this point many traditional herbal products are classed as botanicals under the food supplement regime; however, most of these products will become illegal once they are forced to conform to the testing standards which have been developed to assess feasibility of synthetic drugs.

Dr Robert Verkerk, executive director of Alliance for Natural Health International,

Picture: Getty

chocolate, apples, chicken, fish and oats.

Adding a good antioxidant supplement which includes vitamins A, C, E and selenium will help.

Simba, by The Little Herbal Company, contains hypoxis hemerocallidea (also known as African Potato), a tuber which has been used traditionally in Africa to treat a range of immune-related conditions. The reason it has such great potential in treating autoimmune disorders such as lupus, chronic fatigue, asthma, and multiple sclerosis is because it is an immune modulator. This means it works to regulate the immune system to become more or less active, depending on individual needs.

Take one capsule three times daily on an empty stomach. It is essential that you take the capsules up to 30 minutes before or two hours after food in order to receive maximum benefits. Simba costs F29.50 for 90 capsules from The Little Herbal Company (www.littleherbal.co.uk; 00 44-1484 685 100).

To find a local practitioner, contact the Cork Lupus Support Group (021-4320236).

The group is based at 134 Evergreen Road, Cork, and they hold coffee mornings, monthly meetings, provide up-to-date literature, visit lupus sufferers who are in hospital (members and non-members), and offer a library loan service to members. There is also a national online lupus support forum at http://irishlupussupportgroup.com/forum/.

Caution: Do not take Simba if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have just had a bone marrow or solid organ transplant.

Your right to use natural medicine said, “Getting a classical herbal medicine from a non-European traditional medicinal culture through the EU registration scheme is akin to putting a square peg into a round hole.

“The regulatory regime ignores and thus has not been adapted to the specific traditions.

Such adaptation is required urgently if the directive is not to discriminate against non-European cultures

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and consequently violate human rights.” There are two important actions we can take to protect our rights to govern our bodies and take control of our own health and wellbeing: 1. Contact your local MEP and send a letter to voice your support of the ANH which is demanding a suspension of the implementation of the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (THMPD).

2. Get together with like-minded individuals in your local community to share information about the traditional and current uses of local wild or cultivated herb plants and foods.

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