Health & Wellbeing

By Karen Bate

newsdesk@blackmorevale.net Almost 51 per cent of all adults across the globe struggle to get the recommended eight hours of sleep a night, but a young man from Sturminster Newton has found the secret to a good night’s sleep and is helping hundreds of people get one too. James, 20, launched Aurora Comfort, a fledgling business selling luxurious, high-end weighted blankets, in lockdown last year, after battling insomnia since he was a child. “It’s like having a hug,” said James. “Research has found a weighted blanket mimics the effects a deep therapy massage has on the body and have a calming effect, which can help anyone sleep better. “My Aurora weighted blanket helps people with physical ailments, like arthritis or fibromyalgia as they dull the pain, people whose brains are active at night despite being exhausted, people on the autistic spectrum, those that struggle with disrupted sleep or have sensory issues and anyone who wants to feel a sense of calm after a long day. “The blanket applies even pressure over your body, which gives the feeling that you are being gently hugged. The sensation you receive is an instant feeling of calm which reduces anxiety. You will then feel more relaxed and able to have a better quality sleep.” Scientific research has found the technology of a weighted blankets lowers cortisol levels, making it easy to relax and reducing tossing and turning throughout the night. James, who has high-functioning autism and was prescribed liquid melatonin to help him sleep until he became immune, has spent months developing his website and researching the best blankets on the global market to sell at affordable prices. Given his own experience of poor sleep, James is

passionate about sharing this simple solution to quality sleep. James sells the highest quality, longest lasting blankets, which have flown off his virtual shelves since launching Aurora Comfort in October 2020. His mum Leah said: “I am so proud of James. He has created a wonderful business selling something he feels passionate about. The weighted blanket he first had worked for him so he wanted to help others, and what is wonderful is that he is able to price his top-end stock at affordable process, because he isn’t looking to make vast profits, just enough to be independent. “The blankets suit most people, even those without sensory issues. I have had superb feedback from people with anxiety, insomnia, arthritis, fibromyalgia and restless legs that it really helps to ‘calm’ the body.” James stocks a number of size blankets in different weights to find the perfect match for you. To find out more go to: auroracomfort.co.uk or email support@ auroracomfort.co.uk.

COMFORT ZONE: Aurora Blankets mimic the effect of a deep therapy massage, says James Pictures: Mollie Grace Photography Secrets of a good night’s sleep is all wrapped up...

Health & Wellbeing Meditations in nature: springtime symphonies

As winter withdraws and spring rapidly approaches, I am reminded of how much I love nature’s new beginnings. Already I have seen my first adder of the year, along with a common lizard, and brimstone butterflies. It is like seeing old friends again and is comforting to know that the seasonal song is still beating to the same familiar rhythm despite the environmental damage we are causing. An anonymous poet once claimed “the Earth has music for those who listen”. When we put away our mobiles, take off our headphones, open our ears and switch off our modern world of noise, we can hear our beautiful planet breathe. Hearing the sound of the rain on the ground, the wind in the trees, the waves on the shore and the singing and buzzing of the life around us, makes us feel connected to the nature on which we are all so dependent. For this is the soundtrack of our lives; the music of the Earth that, like an owl in the darkness, sings on the edge of our consciousness. Being a birdwatcher since childhood, it is birdsong that constantly cuts through my thoughts and warms my heart the most. A week or so ago, in the late February sunshine, I heard my first skylarks of the year, and since then my ears have been finely tuned to the unfolding Spring symphony and the imminent arrival of our migrant warblers; the Chiffchaff often being the first and most dominant with its “chiff chaff, chiff chaff, chiff-chiff-chiff”. Environmental psychologists have shown that listening to bird song that is quiet, has a high frequency or is complex and melodic, is both soothing and mentally restorative. For example, the descending whistle of a willow warbler or the varied, sweet repetitive trills of a nightingale. Although pigeons or starlings wouldn’t score highly on the ‘soothing scale’, they still have their place in nature’s repertoire. For me, I love the soft, tuneful, territorial song of a blackbird in the middle of the night or the loud, powerful jingle of our common wrens. But perhaps my favourite is the yellowhammer’s song “a little bit of bread and no cheese” as this was the first call I learned as a child. Since then, it has felt truly delightful to gradually recognise the music of our common birds and who it is that is singing to me. n Dr Susie Curtin curtin.susanna@gmail.com

Our health has never been so much at the forefront of our minds. Advertise your health and wellbeing business here: 07876 563683

Age Concern North Dorset

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

01258 475582

Office open 10am - 2pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Would like to meet

Health & Wellbeing

Martin, 63, looking to meet lady 40 to 70. 5ft 2in tall to 5ft 6in tall, 01258 472910

RELAXING CRYSTAL BOWL SOUND BATHS on zoom. 01935 389655, ahiahel@live.com, centreforpuresound.org

NATURAL PAIN RELIEF therapist in Gillingham. Bio resonance scan and atments.clinical reflexology & baby/ toddler reflexology. T: 01747 826931 yvonne@intelligenthealthclini c.co.uk Making Life More Comfortable!

ADELE CLINCH, BSC HCPC Registered chiropodist/podiatrist 01935 812231 Home visits in NW Dorset sherbornepodiatry.com

Health & Wellbeing Sage advice for menopausal and foggy-headed symptoms

I have just read that if you put six leaves of sage into the juice of a lemon, soak it overnight and first thing the next morning drink it, diluted in a mug of warm water, it will help with menopausal hot flushes. This got me thinking about sage and what a wonderful herb it is. Now it is mainly used for culinary purposes but that is sad as it is so much more than that. The ancient Greeks revered sage as the “immortality herb” and the Romans, who were very influential in bringing us many herbs from the Mediterranean, used it as a digestive for helping to break down fatty meats – translated into modern terms, the bitters in the sage will promote digestive bile which helps the liver to process the fats. (Hence sage and onion stuffing). They also used it as poultices over wounds as it has the most wonderful anti microbial and astringent elements. Sage was known as the ‘salvation plant’ and gets its name from salverum, which means cure or save. Throughout the world and history, it has been one of the most versatile and useful herbs. The indigenous people in America used sage for smudging (this is a practice of burning the stalks and letting the smoke penetrate the room and your aura and it clears away negative energy as well as being anti-viral.) For me, as I am doing exams at the moment, sage acts as a brain tonic (along with rosemary). It protects the nervous system from damaging free radicals and is reported to help memory and cognitive function as well as slow down ageing of the brain, so it could be extremely good for Alzheimer’s. It has phytoestrogens which are plant hormones that mimic our own oestrogen. These can help balance our system and it is helpful in the menopause for controlling some of the rather nastier symptoms us women have to put up with including night sweats and insomnia as well as a foggy brain. Traditionally it was used to enhance fertility. Infuse the leaves for 10 minutes in boiling water and drink as a tea (with some lovely local honey), or gargle as the antiseptic properties are excellent for sore throats and mouth ulcers and if you rub the leaves and put them on your gums, it is said to help with toothache. The wonderful essential oils have antimicrobial and calming properties which can help gut infections by getting rid of unfriendly bacteria.

Fiona Chapman is studying naturopathy and herbal medicine at the College of Naturopathic Medicine Declutter your house and your habits

Clutter creeps into our lives. We have piles of ‘stuff-to-sort-out’, piles of outgrown children’s clothes, undone tasks popping into our minds repeatedly. We have ‘clutter’ in our financial life, in the technology we use and even in our own wellbeing. In this time-poor, informationrich lifestyle, we easily commit to taking on too many things. As we move throughout the day, our minds jump from task to task but also deal with a steady stream of interruptions partly because of this clutter – or drainers – popping out of our subconscious. Taking proactive steps to declutter our lives of these drainers will have a positive impact on our energy, focus and even our confidence, with immediate effect. By being proactive and taking steps to remove drainers and clutter, we will feel calmer, more in control and more ready to focus. How do we do this? If you follow my Instagram (@alicejohnsenlifecoach) or are a past or current client, you will know what I am going to say next. Break it down! If the thought of clearing your whole house seems enough to send you back to bed, take it one area at a time. Allocate the time you can afford to spare per week. So, in the first week you might crack that personal filing. Next week could be about throwing out, recycling or passing on piles of old magazines and books. Then your clothes, and so on. (Warning: whilst we’ve all been wearing the same three sets of clothes for approximately 51 weeks now, don’t assume you might not want to break that pattern in the nearish future…) Can you declutter your routine? Are you aware of any routines you have in your life that are no longer applicable? We go through the day subconsciously working through routines because that is what they are and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. But occasionally questioning this is a good idea. Finances – address unpaid bills and fixing a workable budget that you can stick to will help you declutter this bit of your life. It’s about allocating time to address the messy bits we stick with but don’t really need in our lives, out of habit. So here’s a challenge. Why not identify four drainers in your life, work out how you can clear them and then really notice how different life feels afterwards?

n Alice Johnsen is a life coach based just outside Sherborne. 07961 080513alicejohnsen.co.uk

A walk around...

HERMITAGE

WARNING: If you intend to do this walk when it’s been raining, wear wellies or well dubbinned boots and carry a stick as the Blackmore Vale clay soil is deep, squidgy and slippery! Head for the church, where there are a few parking places close by. Visit the historic church first, while your footwear is still clean, then go back and join the bridleway opposite where you parked. It heads SSE, passing a couple of ponds and goes uphill, crossing a field and entering a wood, turning right, S, for a short distance then entering another field where you turn left, SSE, skirting Prince’s Wood downhill, crossing a stream, then up again where the hill is dotted with lots of anthills. There are some good views to be had as well as enjoying a very natural environment. Return to the churchyard and go through the gate on the with retired Dorset rights of way officer Chris Slade

north side to use the footpath crossing a small field to join a road where you turn right, NE, for ¼ of a mile, turning right, ESE when the Tarmac runs out. Continue for ½ a mile to a junction of several ways. Turn left, N, skirting a copse on your right, crossing a meadow and continuing for a mile through the edge of a wood and crossing a couple of fields until you reach a road at Rhymehorn. Turn left and follow the road W, curving SW for half a mile then, where the road

turns sharply SE, you carry on SSW along a bridleway, Stonerush Drove, for a mile, skirting Admiral Digby’s Plantation, until you reach the road where you turn left, E, passing the village hall and phone box library and continuing down the hill to a junction where you veer right to your car. Strained relationships in pandemic: Now it’s time to heal

We are all in relationships – spouse, children, siblings, relatives, friends, neighbours, community and all who cross our paths. We’re also in relation to everything around us – animate and imamate things and objects; including our planet and the Universe. However, the most important relationship we have is with ourselves. As we keep fingers crossed for a return to normality after a year’s upheaval now is a time for reflection, reassessment, spring cleaning, new goals and resolve. We need to come together. The last time we were in a similar situation was after the war. We are all suffering from trauma. Being locked down has been extremely challenging. It’s not all been doom and gloom. For some it’s been make or break, and in my work as a counsellor/ psychotherapist I’ve witnessed some incredible resilience, determination, courage, strength, risk taking, honesty and fortitude in the face of adversity. Many have sought solutions; to what sometimes seems insurmountable issues. Relationships have been high on my case load. Being confined has made many of us face things we struggle with. Fear, anxiety, uncertainty, lack of meaning and/or purpose, powerlessness, unmanageability, isolation, loneliness, irritability, frustration, anger, sadness, loss, grief, hurt, desperation, suicide ideation, exhaustion, depression. Self-destructive ways have soared; many don’t know what best to do. Confusion and exasperation has been huge. Romantic relationships have broken down, friendships finished, families have been dysfunctional, acquaintances lost – for some it’s been horrendous with domestic violence, arguments, resentments, envy, criticism, jealousy, rejection and despair. We’ve found it hard to keep our character defects and shortcomings in check. Many feel they’re like a pressure cooker about to blow its lid. However, maybe we can try and find a mental health ‘silver lining’ to this pandemic? Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise in some way? Maybe it’s been like looking in a ‘mirror’ that we have avoided; which has reflected back to us the not so pleasant sides of our characters and personalities? Maybe it’s time we faced our fears and did a little work on ourselves and our relationships? I sincerely believe we all want to love and be loved. We all want to feel worthwhile and to have meaning and purpose in our lives. I believe we’re all born good – a clean slate! It’s only our life experiences that mould us. The mixed messages that shape us. What we see, hear and do becomes our perception. We need a paradigm shift. A reality check. Healing. For our own peace of mind we probably need to change a few things about ourselves. Before we can help others we need to help ourselves. We need to be gentle with ourselves and others. We need compassion, empathy and understanding. We need forgiveness, acceptance and tolerance. Maybe we need to make big changes in our lives and this pandemic has flagged them up? Most of all, maybe we just need to be very grateful that we’ve survived –because many haven’t! n Psychotherapist David Stanton lives near Sherborne.

David Stanton IAC ICPT ISOCS ISSUP Senior Psychotherapist/Counsellor. Trainer and Mental Health Consultant.

Individual and Group face to face sessions; also via video on WhatsApp, Skype, Messenger and Zoom.

Clinical Supervisor to other Health Care workers.

Counselling for Individuals, Groups, Couples, Children, Adolescents and Families.

40+ years experience; including working with Relate, the Samaritans, MIND, Turning Point, Action on Addiction, Emmaus, CAMHS. GP Surgeries. Schools, Universities, Youth Service, Prisons, Courts. HR Depts, Corporates.

Depression, Anxiety, Trauma, Self Esteem, Relationship problems, Family Dynamics, Bereavement, Eating Disorders, Substance/Alcohol Abuse, Addictions. Isolation, Loneliness, PTSD, Bi-Polar, OCD, Sexual/Physical Abuse, Self Harming, Death Anxiety, Sex Issues. Lack of Meaning & Purpose, Anger, Phobias, Gender, Sexuality, Social Justice. Conflict Resolution. Crisis Management.

Available for Mental Health and Emotional Wellness Workshops, Retreats, Seminars, Training and Talks.

Emotional Intelligence and Awareness Educator to all Education Establishments and Businesses.

CONFIDENTIALITY ASSURED.