The Green Village News for the ‘Health and Wellbeing’ Category
Saturday, November 14th, 2009
A proposal to build an eco home near to the site of a former asbestos factory is facing continued opposition from a local action group. The proposal to build a three bedroom house on a car park which is situated across the road from the site of Acre Mill where the former Cape Asbestos factory was in operation.
An action group was formed in opposition to the proposed eco home that was proposed by Lyn and Christine Gledhill due to concerns that commencement of building work would disturb asbestos fibres in the ground which could be released into the air and a nearby water course. Mr Gledhill, managing director of Beer Gas Express, commented previously that he was confident there is no risk of asbestos contamination if the proposal to build on the site was granted.
(more…)
Tags: acre mill, asbestos, asbestos cancer, cancer, contamination, Eco Home, hebdon bridge, planning permission, public health, sustainable home, water pollution
Posted in Eco Home, Environmental Impact, Environmental Politics, Green Living, Green Planet, Health and Wellbeing, Sustainable Development | No Comments
Tuesday, September 8th, 2009
Most people will be aware now that the kids are back at school, if only because of the added congestion that returns once the school gates reopen. Congestion that could be eased if fewer people relied on gas guzzling vehicles to transport their children to school each weekday morning were it not for a number of schools issuing bans on kids cycling to school.
Safety on the roads is being blamed as a primary reason for not permitting or strongly discouraging children to cycle into school, as a number of headteachers are concerned that roads are too busy and traffic too much of a threat for them to be prepared to take the risk of allowing children to arrive on two wheels instead of four. Although walking is still an option for those with the time, travelling by bike is often a more practical approach due to the increased distance that can be travelled within the same amount of time.
(more…)
Tags: bike ban, bikes, cars, CTC, cycle lanes, cycle proficiency, cycling, right to ride to school, schools
Posted in Green Family, Green Living, Green Planet, Health and Wellbeing, Transport and Travel | 1 Comment
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009
The NHS has the biggest carbon footprint of the whole UK public sector, emitting over 18 million tonnes of CO2 per year. In an effort to help reduce costs, save lives and help reduce the carbon emissions of the organisation, a handbook providing guidance to key decision-makers in the NHS has been issued along with a letter from the President of UK Faculty of Public Health, Professor Alan Maryon-Davis, the Director of the NHS Sustainable Development Unit, David Pencheon, the Chief Executive of the NHS, David Nicholson, and the Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation, Steve Barnett.
The handbook, ‘Sustaining a Healthy Future – Taking action on climate change (with a special focus on the NHS)’ outlines a number of motives for the health authority to put measures in place to reduce the huge levels of greenhouse gases emitted every year. As well as making a significant contribution towards the government’s targets for reduced levels of carbon emissions by 2020, the organisation is also facing up to their responsibility to act to prevent serious effects of climate change caused by global warming that would inevitably affect the world’s poorest nations with most impact.
(more…)
Tags: carbon emissions, carbon footprint, climate change, nhs
Posted in Companies and Organisations, Environmental Impact, Green Living, Green Planet, Health and Wellbeing | No Comments
Saturday, August 15th, 2009
Homeopathic doctors in Mexico City have discovered that homeopathy can be used to successfully treat and cure swine flu. The pandemic outbreak of the disease that is sweeping the globe, with over 215,000 cases reported and 1,735 people who have died after being infected with the disease.
Although a vaccination programme has been announced in the UK yesterday (Thursday) that will be rolled out from October to vaccinate 13 million people who are most at risk in the first stage of the plan, some people are sceptical about how effective immunisation will be. In America, one of the three strains of swine flu that people are contracting is resistant to the drug of choice being used to treat the disease, Tamiflu.
(more…)
Tags: alternative medicine, flu, flu vaccine, herbal medicine, homeopath, homeopathic remedy, homeopathy, influenza, pharmaceutical industry, swine flu, Tamiflu
Posted in Green Family, Green Living, Green Planet, Health and Wellbeing, Science and Technology | 4 Comments
Thursday, June 25th, 2009
Despite homeopathic treatment prescribed by the NHS being at the request of patients, the practice has received criticism due to the total amount spent on the alternative therapy totaling £12 million across the UK over the last three years. The treatment is based on the theory that like treats like, and patients are prescribed minute doses of plant extracts diluted down that aim to treat the underlying cause of illness, rather than simply relieving the symptoms.
Criticism has come from a number of people including Professor of Complementary Medicine, Edzard Ernst, who has said that homeopathic remedies are little more than sugar pills, and their effects are placebo. There have been calls for doctors to stop prescribing homeopathic treatment for patients as a result of this, although not everybody is of the opinion that homeopathy is a waste of time.
(more…)
Tags: alternative medicine, alternative therapies, annabel croft, complementary therapy, homeopathy, natural remedies, nhs
Posted in Green Family, Green Living, Health and Wellbeing | 1 Comment
Tuesday, March 24th, 2009
Viewers were introduced to a range of herbal remedies and beauty products that are quick and easy for anybody to make in their own homes on last night’s ‘Grow Your Own Drugs’. This week’s episode, which focussed on the healing powers of herbs, featured a peppermint body scrub and a coldsore curing lip salve made from lemon balm.
Lemon balm is a pretty herb that is very easy to grow, and contains natural chemicals to treat inflammation and fight against viral infections such as troublesome coldsores. The balm was made using 21 chopped tablespoons of the herb, which grows profusely so a good trim back of the plant would give you plenty for the recipe.
Another recipe featured was a breath freshening spray, aimed at helping wean people off their reliance on chewing gum and mints. The spray was made from a thyme, mint and eucalyptus tincture, which is left in alcohol for a month until ready for use. The spray works by making use of the antibacterial properties of the majority of the ingredients, especially thymol, the active ingredient contained in thyme. A make-up artist who frequently used mints because of close contact with clients tried the spray and found it to be very effective.
James Wong also introduced viewers to the healing properties of the plantain, which grows in most garden lawns, and contains natural sterols which act as an antihystamine, and polyphenols which help calm inflammation. The plant can be used to sooth insect bites and stings such as nettle stings, bringing relief from the itching that people experience. He showed how simple it can be to make your own cream that can be stored in the fridge, or even the freezer, for use at a later date. The series is currently available on BBC’s iplayer, and the recipes are available on the Grow Your Own Drugs website.
Tags: bite and sting cream, breath spray, cold sore remedy, grow your own drugs, herbal remedies, herbs
Posted in Green Living, Grow Your Own, Health and Wellbeing | No Comments
Sunday, March 8th, 2009
This weekend has seen the Civic Hall in Nantwich, Cheshire, play host to a Mind Body and Spirit fair in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care. As well as showcasing a number of talks and demonstrations presented in the Peggy Killick suite upstairs, and on the main stage, there were many stalls offering introductory treatments in a variety of different alternative therapies, including Reflexology, Reiki, Shiatsu, massage and colour therapy.
One visitor told us, “It’s nice to see that fairs have moved away from just being Psychic fairs and have more variety nowadays. There’s something to interest everyone.”
The growing interest in alternative remedies and renewed interest in the healing properties of traditional remedies and health benefits of using natural products shows there is more demand for events such as this. People want to know what they are putting into and on to their bodies, and events like the Mind Body and Spirit fair give people the chance to explore and find out about remedies and therapies they may not have heard about before, and find practitioners in their area.
Tags: alternative therapies, colour therapy, mind body and spirit fair, reflexology, reiki, shiatsu
Posted in Green Living, Health and Wellbeing | 1 Comment
Wednesday, March 4th, 2009
Monday night saw the first in a six part series on BB2 at 8.30pm, Grow Your Own Drugs, presented by James Wong. James is a trained ethno-botanist, trained at Kew Gardens, who brings energy and interest to the programme which aims to inform people about the benefits that can be enjoyed from some simple herbal remedies and beauty treatments that you can grow in your own garden.
The first episode, which focused on fruit, saw James creating his own constipation relief fig syrup, a face mask recipe using the properties of kiwi and papaya to create a natural, cheap alternative to shop bought face masks which two students and part time models tried and approved of and felt the benefits of, and a hop and lavender pillow to help relieve insomnia. The recipes for his remedies are available on the Grow Your Own Drugs website.
James stresses during the programme that although herbal remedies and alternative medicines have been around for centuries, often traditional folklore recipes, conventional medical advice should always be sought to diagnose a problem. Following this though, there is no danger to people to try these remedies as long as they follow the recipe and dosing instructions carefully.
If you missed Grow Your Own Drugs, it is available on BBC’s iplayer, and tune in next week for episode 2.
Tags: alternative medicine, grow your own drugs, herbal remedy, james wong, tv programme
Posted in Green Living, Grow Your Own, Health and Wellbeing | No Comments
