Health & Wellbeing

DRUGS DRINK MENTAL HEALTH FITNESS DIET. Tenacity retreat specialise in wellbeing we have sponsorship available ( subject to t&c’s ) WE ALL KNOW SOMEONE THIS CAN HELP. Get in touch and change someone’s life. 07423009553 Alice Johnsen is a life coach based near Sherborne. 07961 080513 alicejohnsen.co.uk

SOMERSET EAR WAX CLINIC Ear wax removed by gentle irrigation by fully trained and experienced nurse . Based in Frome but home visits for the house bound can be arranged. Please call to discuss an appointment. 07962 106045

Age Concern North Dorset

(Sturminster Newton) Your local charity for all age-related information and advice

Befriending Welfare Advice Telephone Support Foot Clinic 01258 475582

Office open 10am - 2pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday info@acnorthdorset.org.uk | www.acnorthdorset.org.uk

TREAT YOUR FEET

Julie Anne Smith DPodM MRCPod PODIATRIST 01258 821297

Burton Street, Marnhull, DT10 1PS stedmundspodiatry@gmail.com

It’s perfectly acceptable to have imperfections

I’ve been thinking about perfection recently. I’ve decided it’s not all it’s cracked up to be, in fact, I’d go as far as saying it doesn’t even exist. Perfection is just an opinion, a view, a snapshot in time. It’s not a fixed mark and it certainly shouldn’t form the framework for your life. So, if you feel like relaxing the rules and generally letting it all go in the name of quality of life, read on. The pressure to strive for perfection in nearly everything we do is very real. Take social media. Don’t get me wrong, I love social media when it’s used well but on all social platforms, there’s a continual drip-feed of perfection. Perfect houses, clothes, faces, views, holidays, businesses – the whole thing. And yes, if you are promoting what you sell of course you want it to look as good as possible. So it’s up to us as consumers to remember, it’s not the whole picture and it is absolutely not an accurate reflection of reality. On one level, it’s fun, inspiring escapism and if you are in a good place when you’re absorbing it all, that’s just fine. You can sit back and enjoy the lavishness of it all. It’s when your chips are down a bit that it can become unhelpful. You start comparing, feeling less worthy. Not so much fun. What about being the perfect parent, spouse or colleague? Do you set yourself unrealistic targets to reach, constantly, for fear of being seen to be a little less than perfect? Without realising it, we can create a framework for our lives that is distracting, unproductive and exhausting. Why? Surely it is better to be honest – with ourselves and those with whom we interact on any level – about what can or cannot happen. About who we are and who we can or cannot be. Let me finish with this quote from an excellent source, The School of Life. “Striving to be ‘perfect’ is not only an unnecessary burden for a parent: it can be actively harmful to a child’s wellbeing. Setting oneself up as an idealised figure risks seeming remote and intimidating: someone to be alternately worshipped and feared rather than properly loved.” I’m putting in a bid for imperfection and honesty over a glossy papering of the cracks. I hope you will join me.

A walk around...

with retired Dorset rights of way officer Chris Slade

PIMPERNE

Park near the church where, at the roadside, is the stump of an ancient stone cross. After visiting the church, head north up the road for 100 yards then turn right and head north east up a road which, when the Tarmac runs out, becomes a bridleway leading in a straight line uphill to the parish boundary, over which is Pimperne Long Barrow, which is worth a visit as it’s the biggest in the country! I paced it as over 100 yards long. It’s never been excavated so take a trowel (only joking!) There are wide views in all directions especially across the Cranborne Chase. Return south west along the bridleway for a furlong, then turn right and join a bridleway northwards along a field edge for a mile, the last quarter mile of which is along the edge of Pimperne Wood. At a meeting of ways turn left and head south west downhill for half a mile where you turn left and head south through a woody lane then alongside a field for half a mile. There are lots of pheasants to be seen (or shot!). Next turn right and head uphill north westwards for a furlong, then turn left south westwards along a straight path across Pimperne up and Down for three quarters of a mile. You can look down on the village from here. Continue along the path until you reach a road. Here you turn left, and walk eastwards downhill for half a mile, passing Manor Farm. There’s a bend to the left, heading north east for a quarter of a mile where it meets the village road. Turn right and in a furlong you’ll be in sight of your car. When you reach it you’ll have walked six miles.

Make a bee-line for the wondrous properties of lavender

I was always put off lavender because I had a rather dodgy headmistress of the same name who was overly fond of some of her pupils. So lavender was a no-no for me. What a shame, because it is the most wonderful aromatic plant and so incredibly useful for many things, not just herbal medicine, and fantastic for bees. I am well over my dislike of lavender now and have hedges of it in my garden, deep blue and white – with the white attracting way more bees than the blue, if anybody knows why, please tell me. Lavender has been used for hundreds of years in the perfumery business, with lavender water being given to those who were sick, anxious and fractious. It scents bath salts, candles, perfumes, furniture polish, cleaning liquids, you name it, and lavender can be used. Us herbalists use Lavendula officinalis or augustifolia, French lavender, and it has a myriad of uses. It is extremely antiseptic and antimicrobial which means it is good both internally and externally for colds, flu, coughs, chest infections, tonsilitis – any respiratory problems, including hayfever and asthma. These properties also make it good for cleaning surfaces and as an insect repellent. It is used in a tea or tincture for anxiety, stress, low mood and poor concentration. We also use it for insomnia, and you will often find lavender in “sleep mixes” whether from a herbalist of shop. We are all different, but I can find lavender very over stimulating if I use too much, so a couple of drops of essential oil in a bath will be way more effective than 10 and sometimes putting lavender on your pillow can wake you up if there is too

much. Likewise, in a sleep tea, use it with caution as it is a strong flavour and too much can stimulate. Energetically however, it is a very cooling herb, so we will use it if someone is hot and angry, fidgety and restless. It can also help with headaches and migraines –often rubbing some essential oil onto your temples will help to alleviate a tension headache. Taking it internally can soothe bloating and flatulence as well as indigestion as it calms and cools the digestive system. It is absolutely amazing for burns – and a bottle of lavender essential oil should be in any first aid kit. Putting neat essential oil onto a burn works wonders for relieving the pain and promotes swift healing and it can be used for sunburn as well. n pellyfiona@gmail.com.

Fiona Chapman is studying naturopathy and herbal medicine at the College of Naturopathic Medicine

Your number one life goal: Look after YOU

The approaching autumn and winter can be an anxious time for many. Some may suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder which is a type of depression that’s related to changes in the seasons; whilst others are just aware that their mood may dip due to the lack of light and heat. Like some animals, many people feel like hibernating for the winter; wishing they could wake up next spring! The lack of sunlight and warmth can have a very real effect on the mental and physical health for many. Traditionally, the rate of prescribed anti-depressants increases considerably during the wintertime; whilst the cold can increase aches and pains for many. Self-care becomes even more important in the winter months and there are certain things one can do to help boost one’s mood. We have four important chemicals in our brain that induce wellbeing – dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphin. Dopamine is the ’reward’ chemical and is brought on by doing things like eating things we like, achieving a goal, getting enough sleep or having a hot bath/shower. Oxytocin is the ‘love’ hormone and is promoted by such things as socialising, physical touch, helping others and petting animals. Serotonin helps stabilise our moods and is increased by exposure to sunlight, nature and mindfulness. Endorphin is the ‘pain killer’ and is brought about by exercising, listening to music and laughing. If we understand how to recharge and rejuvenate ourselves, we will have perseverance to push through the stressful situations and cope with the low times. Self-care is about prioritising our own needs, so that we are the best version of ourselves. At times when we find our energy levels depleted, or enthusiasm for life is lacking; we need to look at our whole life and determine what needs are getting overlooked. One way is to make a list under the following headings –relationship needs, work needs, health needs, social needs, spiritual needs and maybe other personal needs. Then under each heading write three goals – these may be things that you wish to change or something new you want to do like start a hobby, become more or less social, work on your physical and/or mental health, change your workload, focus more on positivity and gratitude, find more space and quiet time for yourself. You might want to ask yourself ‘What can I do just for my own simple pleasure?’ or ‘What treats taken regularly would restore my mind, body and soul?’ Commit to doing something purely for its self-care benefit at least once a week; or daily if possible! It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money or time, as long as it benefits you. You may feel you are being selfish – but many people spend far too much time thinking about the past, wallowing in regret and/or self-pity, worrying about what other people think, being lazy and self-serving, peoplepleasing or care-taking other people’s needs, being angry or full of resentments, blaming all and sundry. Both self-esteem and how you maintain boundaries are important parts of self-care. So whether it’s about saying ‘no’ to others or saying ‘yes’ to ourselves, we need to be brave and wise and be there – for us! n David Stanton is a Senior

Counsellor/Psychotherapist living and working in the Vale. Appointments: 07584 711488

Meditations in nature: Endings or beginnings?

By now, October is in full swing, how quickly the time passes. Dark purple clouds, wind and rain have given way to a bright October sky; a crystal-clear blue expanse laced with feathery white cirrus stratus. Crossing the overflowing Stour, a little egret glides effortlessly along the banks whilst flurries of swallows sweep low over the adjacent fields in search of insects to fuel their forthcoming journey home to Africa. Most have already departed. The month of October is renowned for its golden light, vibrant hues, and the wealth of autumn bounty still to be gathered from the hedgerows. As I walk down the ride, blackberries, crab apples, rosehips, sloes, and spindle berry hang like shining jewels, gleaming in the October sunshine; fruits and seeds that will transform autumn endings into spring beginnings. The leaves on the woodland trees are dried and edged with burnished brass. The diminishing hours of sunlight and the drop in temperature will, in time, trigger the chlorophyll to completely break down, thus revealing the leaves’ other pigments of yellow, red, and orange. But for now, the countryside is still green. Surprisingly, there are remnants of summer wildlife; common lizards and a grass snake basking in the sunshine, dragonflies and darters, and grasshoppers and crickets all having a last flurry. But today, it is the abundance of red admiral butterflies that hold my attention. They look resplendent feeding on the ivy flowers alongside scores of bees, hornets and flies that together are emitting a continuous buzz, loud enough to make a passer-by stop and wonder. Our red admirals are classed as migrant butterflies travelling to our shores in the Spring from North Africa and the continent. On route to northern Britain and Ireland, the females lay their eggs on the tips of nettles. Eventually these herald the emergence of new butterflies from July onwards. Red admirals are one of our most handsome and strongest flying insects that can still be on the wing in southern England in November and December. I have even seen one feeding in my garden on Christmas Day. I used to think that there was a sadness to autumn, that it represented endings rather than beginnings. Now, I look upon it differently. It is a time when nature sets seed for the following year and prepares to rest through the winter. Perhaps it is a good time for us to do the same; to pause and reflect on the summer just gone and to make plans for our future. Dr Susie Curtin curtin.susanna@gmail.com

NATURAL PAIN RELIEF

therapist in Gillingham

Bio resonance scan & treatments, Clinical reflexology & baby/toddler reflexology T: 01747 826931 yvonne@intelligenthealthclinic.co.uk Making Life More Comfortable!

BRUCE GOWEN COUNSELLING: Let me guide you to make sense of thoughts and feelings that you may be struggling with. BACP registered. 07983 503155

By Miranda Robertson

newsdesk@ blackmorevale.net A Tarrant Monkton woman who launched a gorgeous natural skincare range after years of suffering with rosacea and super sensitive skin is celebrating after her products were accepted for a major new department store. Catherine Thomas, 57, had enjoyed a varied career before making the leap into starting her own business. Then just as she got going with her range of soaps, moisturisers and creams the pandemic shut off many avenues for getting her products out there. Undaunted, she set about making nourishing hand creams to donate to NHS workers whose skin was left raw with the rigorous hand washing and sanitising. With the help of her friend Julie McKendrick she also made soaps – a time and space-consuming exercise: “It’s a bit of alchemy, soapmaking,” says Catherine. Naomi Booth from Sixpenny Handley designed beautiful packaging: “Presentation is so important, and we didn’t want to overdo the packaging as our motto is kind to your skin, kind to your world.” The only thing that was missing was a major outlet to sell their wares and once life started to return to something approaching normality Catherine contacted Bobby’s, who were set to open a new department store in Bournemouth in September. Now Pip Skincare is rapidly making a name for itself, with a particular favourite being the Hard Working Handcream with lavender and geranium – one devotee is Catherine’s partner, who is both a landscape gardener and a mechanic, who says the product is miraculous. Macmillan nurses who tried it on their clients said it was the most effective cream they’d used, Catherine said: “I’ve always been interested in more natural ways of everything, keeping thing more plantbased and keeping nasty chemicals out – particularly petrochemicals, which are so widely used in skin products because they feel nice and they’re cheap. However skin doesn’t breathe very well covered in them. I’ve tried to put my prices low, while not using any of the nasties.” She added: “I have very sensitive, troubled skin myself, so I’ve really enjoyed creating these products and believe in them.” Catherine and Julie recently had a great weekend promoting their products at Bobby’s, and they are starting to see some repeat business, which is very encouraging. “When we found out we could sell our products at Bobby’s, we thought oh my goodness,” said Catherine. “We have had great support from local people – our products are also on sale at Rawston farm shop in Tarrant Rawston, who have been lovely. “And I’m at Shaftesbury Country Market every Thursday morning. “Our products are also on sale at the Forget-me-not Walled Garden in Blandford.” n Go to pipnaturalskincare.com to find out more.

TAKING CARE: Julie McKendrick, left, and Catherine Thomas and, inset, just some of the range of Pip skincare products