Durham Health and Wellbeing

BackCare.org.uk have collated some Back Pain facts and figures to give an overview of the total number of people affected by back pain, the associated costs and and various other back pain statistics.

When considering your health and fitness you have multiple choices available. Where to start, what area to work on, who to see, how often…? Taking a ‘Holistic’ view is essential to this, but what does it mean? We will discuss Holistic Health and how these principles can guide you to making decisions about how to go about improving your health and how to put together an approach that works.

Tyne & Wear Fire and Rescue Services have been organising the Hebburn Sprint Triathlon for a number of years which involves a 400m Swim, 20k Bike and 5k Run.

Pregnant? Just had a baby? Come along to our free demo class and find out what Dancing for Birth is all about. No dance experience necessary. It's fun, gentle exercise designed to help you feel great in pregnancy, prepare for birth and recover postpartum... and baby comes too!

Pollen Avoidance Advice

This pollen calendar shows an average pattern of release of the main allergenic pollen in the UK. The severity and timing of the pollen seasons will differ from year-to-year depending on the weather, biological factors and geographical location.

Pollen Avoidance Advice

Use the pollen calendar to work out which pollen types you are allergic to.

• If you have symptoms in June and July it is probably grass pollen.
• If you have symptoms in the spring it is probably tree pollen, especially Birch and Oak.
• If you suffer in late summer it is probably weeds, and if you have symptoms in the autumn it is probably fungal spores.

Some people are allergic to more than one type of pollen. Several types of pollen have cross reactions.
For example Alder, Hazel, Hornbeam and Birch all have similar allergens so if you are allergic to one you will also react to the others.

Once you have worked out which pollen types you are allergic to it is easier to avoid the problem. For example, avoid high pollen locations such as areas with un-mown grasses in flower, countryside areas with un-mown verges etc. Avoid woodland locations in the tree pollen seasons.

General Tips

• Avoid going out at peak pollen times. Look at the pollen forecasts on the Met Office website.
• On high and very high grass pollen count days the worse times are usually in the early morning (7-10am) and late afternoon ( 4-7pm) as this is when most grasses release their pollen.
• Don't dry washing outside on high pollen count days as it will collect pollen from the air.
• Change clothes and wash hair etc after being out.
• Cover bed and desks when not in use and then fold the cover back carefully when you want to use the area.

It is best to combine pollen avoidance measures with other treatments. The Bowen Technique can make a huge difference to the onset, duration and intensity of the body’s response to the allergens and histamines that trigger this condition.

Alternatively, talk to your GP or pharmacist about other treatments and remedies. In most cases the symptoms can be controlled.

Skills for Life

• Get a qualification in Maths and English at Level 1 or 2 (equivalent to GCSE)
• Improve your skills
• Increase your confidence
• Progress your career

Take the National Test on-line or paper based
It’s Free!

We can help you prepare for the test which consists of 40 multiple choice questions.

We can offer advice and practice sessions from our friendly and qualified tutors.

Sessions will take place at the NIHP on Thursdays 1pm—3pm.

Contact Return to Learn in Stanley on 01207 230 521 or leave your contact details at reception to be added to the waiting list.

All of us here at the Northern Integrative Health Practice in Sacriston, Durham would like to thank our loyal clients for their continued custom during 2010 and welcome our new clients who have chosen us as their health and well-being partner.

We'd like to take this opportunity to let you know that we're taking a holiday during the festive period as follows...

Friday 24th December > Open from 8.30 until 14.00

Sat 25th December - Mon 3rd January > Closed all days

Tuesday 4th January onwards > Open as usual from 8.30 until 20.00

If you have any queries, or require further details, please do not hesitate to contact us on 0191 398 0000. We hope you enjoy your Christmas and look forward to serving you throughout 2011.

The NIHP Team went to Prison... but just for the day!

On Tuesday 14th December the team from the Northern Integrative Health Practice in Sacriston went along to Her Majesty's Prison Durham to provide free massages, acupressure, reflexology, Bowen Therapy and sports massage to the prison staff as part of a well-being day.

"All went well, a great bunch of staff who were all very grateful for their treatments!" our Trevor said. "We were provided with a buffet lunch and given a guided tour of the prison. Not a very nice place I have to say."

I think our team were happy to be let out again so soon - it's our Christmas Party tonight at Le Raaj restaurant in Chester-le-Street!

Congratulations to Zoe and Ed on the birth of Daisy Isobella, the first NIHP Bowen baby!

Zoe started coming to the NIHP in Sacriston, Durham to see our resident practitioner Andrea Black during the early stages of her pregnancy with excruciating back pain. She explained that during her previous pregnancies she was rendered practically disabled for 7 months and had to use crutches, strong muscle relaxants and was hospitalised on several occasions.

Bowen Therapy was discussed as she was keen to try something more holistic. After the first treatment she experienced immediate short term relief for two days which she had not had for six weeks!

Zoe came to Andrea weekly throughout her pregnancy which enabled her to continue working and looking after her family. Andrea said: "Zoe's Bowen treatments gave her much needed relaxation and pain relief. She would fall asleep and on waking would comment on how she felt like she had "slept for a week!"

During the treatments baby Daisy would respond with lots of kicks and movements.

On Monday Zoe and Ed brought Daisy to meet Andrea and the NIHP team and Zoe commented on how different she was to her other two children; "She is just so chilled out! She hardly ever cries and sleeps right through the night."

Andrea said; "It was an absolute delight to finally meet her in person... even though I was convinced she was going to be a he!"

A very happy little Bowen baby and two very proud parents! if you'd like to find out more about how Bowen can help you through preganancy, or help with pain relief, drop in for a chat or give us a call on 0191 398 0000.

Your one stop shop to a healthy new you and 20.11% discount on 11th & 12th December.

Relax, Rejuvenate & Recover
Bowen Technique, Massage, Sports & Remedial, Aromatherapy, Acupuncture, Corrective exercise, Nutritional Advice and more...

Trevor tells us how he got on with his course in London...

"Last month I informed you that I was taking part in a course to learn a new stretching technique down in London. Well, the course was brilliant! Not only was the technique amazing but also the founder and inventor Aaron Mattes was too.

Aaron is a really genuine man who, at the age of 68, is just as passionate about what he does now as he was 42 years ago. He is open to new ideas and was keen to hear our comments and thoughts on his stretching technique.

The course ran from 8am - 6pm over four days. During this time he still ran his clinic seeing clients at 7am and well into the evening. One night he didn't leave until 8.40pm! Watching him work you can see that he loves what he does and his manner with his clients was second to none.

He has invited us all to attend his clinic in the USA free of charge to watch him work - what a great excuse to visit the States. I also met a fellow Bowen practitioner and teacher of NST Michael Burgess on the course, it's always nice to meet new people in the same field and interests."

These new stretching and strengthening techniques will be incorporated into Trevor's Corrective Exercise programmes. If you would like to know more about the techniques or book an appointment with Trevor, just give us a call on 0191 398 0000.

Congratulations to Sunderland Eye Infirmary who scooped an award for working in partnership with the Northern Integrative Health Practice, your centre for health and well-being in Sacriston, County Durham.

City of Sunderland Hospitals Foundation Trust holds a rewards recognition every year to celebrate the Trust's greatest asset - their staff. This year the award was given to the Ophthalmology team for their efforts to re-provide services in the Durham area following the relocation from the University Hospital of North Durham to the NIHP in Sacriston.

Christine Allchin and Carol Weatherstone accepting the award

It's a pleasure to have you working alongside us here at the NIHP!

Jack Walton is growing a moustache for charity this month in aid of Prostate Cancer.

The mo, the slang for moustache, and November come together each year for Movember. This Movember our resident practitioner Jack Walton has decided to donate his face to raise awareness of prostate cancer by growing a moustache. "My donation and commitment is the growth of a moustache for the entire month of November which I know will generate conversation, controversy and laughter" Jack said.

We'll bring you a photo of Jack later in the month, but in the meantime the girls from the NIHP team show that you don't have to be a man to get involved this month...

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. One man dies every hour from the disease in the UK. "This is a cause I feel passionately about and I'm asking you to support my efforts by making a donation to The Prostate Cancer Charity" Jack said. The Prostate Cancer Charity will use the money raised by Movember for the development of programmes related to awareness, public education, advocacy, support of those affected and research into the prevention, detection, treatment and cure of prostate cancer.

If you would like to make a donation to support Jack you can click here to be taken directly to Jack's donation page on Movember. For more details on how the funds raised from previous campaigns have been used and the impact Movember has had.

For any queries relating to donations please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or telephone us on 0191 398 0000.

Many thanks for your support.

Trevor Rutherford, our resident Corrective Exercise and Bowen practitioner, is off to London this month to learn a new stretching technique called Active Isolated Stretching and Strengthening.

The founder Aaron Mattes suffered six crushed disks when he was a champion powerlifter. Confined to a wheelchair he was told he would never walk again. Aaron refused to accept this and developed a unique stretching system which got him out of the wheelchair and walking again.

Aaron's system was recently reviewed in a series of scientific tests by the National Institute of Health in the USA as being the most efficient of all stretching programs. When disks are compressed or herniated the body causes certain muscles to tighten in order to "stabilize the area". In recovery sometimes these muscles remain locked up and Aaron's techniques can be used to help these people.

Aaron and his therapists have helped many wheelchair bound people, as well as amputees around the world to lead a better quality of life.

Read next month's blog to see how Trevor got on!

The buzz still hasn't worn off. Since last week Hannah has been showing off her medal and collecting more sponsorship. A few months ago the fund-raising target of £2,000 seemed as unobtainable as a sub-2-hour half marathon but now she's done them both, with a total of more than £2,600 so far for St Oswald's. Thank you to everyone who has donated.

After a long rest for her aching quad muscles, Hannah has started running again this weekend. Next year, her goal is to do the Great North Run in under 1 hour 50 minutes. She read that after 10 weeks of not running you have to start training again from scratch, so this year she wants to keep on running. The plan is to do the Thirsk 10-Mile in November and the Edinburgh Half Marathon in April.

"It has been such a privilege to meet so many people who know about running during my training and I am very grateful to the team at the Northern Integrative Health Practice, Chris Grieveson and of course David Lowes."

She will however be swapping her trainers for dancing shoes at least one night a week until February - learning to do the cha-cha-cha with a professional dance partner for the St Oswald's Strictly Come Dancing extravaganza!

What a fantastic day. Hannah finished in 1 hour 57 minutes and 45 seconds, beating her sub-2 hour target. She was 1,729th of the women finishers and couldn't wait for her cup of tea and post-run massage with NIHP staff in the St Oswald's tent. Well done everyone!

According to her running diary, Hannah's done 432 miles in training for the Great North Run. After building up to 30 miles a week she only did two easy half hour runs this week. Although bouncing with excess energy she won't be running again now until the gun fires on Sunday.

There are lots of other things you can do to get ready. Watch the video above for tips from the NIHP team in Durham or from marathon winner David Lowes.

Last year, 15,281 women crossed the Great North Run finish line at South Shields. Of those, 1,977 finished in under two hours. This year, Hannah has challenged herself to be one of those sub-2 hour women. It means running more than 12 minutes faster than last year...

Please consider sponsoring Hannah - visit her Just Giving Fundraising Page.

Hannah completed the Alnwick Harriers Coastal Run last weekend. Fantastic effort. 14 miles over rocks and sand and through the waves... arguably much tougher than the Great North Run itself. Bowen, Massage and Podiatry is doing the trick so far.

Hannah will be coming down to Northern Integrative Health Practice in Sacriston today to open our birthday open day. The team at NIHP have been helping Hannah with her Great North Run training, including making custom orthotics for her running shoes. Kelly Mason, who has kindly given sports massages, and the other practitioners will be offering taster sessions. Come down and say hello!