Blog

How to support your body when travelling

7/7/2023

Although it is exciting to be going on holiday, the process of travelling can have an impact on your body.

Whether you are travelling to a different part of the country or going abroad, here are a few tips to help you stay healthy.
Remember to stay hydrated. We often forget to drink water when we are travelling either because we don't have it readily available or because we might not be able to stop to use the bathroom. However travelling especially flying can cause us to become dehydrated. Caffeine and alcohol can also cause dehydration so be mindful before you have a coffee and a glass of fizz to get your holiday started at the airport.
Whether travelling by car, coach or aeroplane our movement is often restricted. Make time to move your body and stretch, walk up and down the plane or take frequent breaks if driving. It is also important to loosen the body before lifting heavy suitcases and back packs and remember to engage your core and watch your back. You wouldn't lift weights in the gym without warming up first.
Getting enough sleep is important before travelling to ensure the body can cope with the extra stress travelling can create. Try to get some good nights sleep prior to travelling especially if you are going to have an early start or crossing time zones.
Stress has an impact on the nervous and immune systems, you don't want to start your holiday with a virus so try to limit your stress by being organised and planning ahead. Being stress and anxious can impede quality sleep and exacerbate symptoms of jet lag.
Did you know that Craniosacral therapy can help with Jet Lag? It helps to bring balance back by resetting the body. I had a lovely review from someone who booked her treatment prior to travelling to the UK from Australia.

"I booked Barbara for a craniosacral session just after arriving from Australia to help me get over jet lag. We know long haul flights really affect our bodily rhythms and that also includes the cranio-sacral rhythm. By resetting the craniosacral rhythm it helps bring all the other rhythms in our body into balance. I was delighted by Barbaras session which really did help me feel so much more grounded and present on British soil and I was able to get my sleep routing into synch with UK."

Fascia: What is it and what do you need to know?

1/6/2023

WHAT IS FASCIA?
Fascia is a 3 dimensional fluid based network that creates stability and connectivity in the body. It surrounds, connect and supports our muscles, organs, bones, tendons ligament and nerves. It separates structures of the body like the segment of an orange. It is not seen on MRI or Xray and is often disregarded. However fascia has 6-10 times more sensory nerves than in the nervous system so this is why when you have an injury or a restriction in your fascia it hurts and sends signals to your brain. It is found all over the body from the top of your head to the tip of your toes, and during a craniosacral Therapy treatment we are working with the fascia.

WHAT IS FASCIA MADE OF?
Elastin - elastic protein fibre that allows for stretching and contraction which allows our skin to bounce back to its normal shape
Collagen- an inelastic protein fibre
Ground substance which is a viscous gel like substance that allows the fascial layers to glide over each other.
Cells mainly immune cells like macrophages and mast cells.

WHAT DOES IT DO?
Healthy fascia will glide over its self and over muscles allowing the muscles to move easily and freely
It hardens if injured causing restriction/ scar tissue. When fascia gets loaded it results in injury fibrosis and adhesions, further thickening the fascia and disrupting movement.
It transmits messages to the brain which include pain messages.
It plays a role in stress regulation, immune health, nutrient absorption, waste elimination and acts as a shock absorber. It carries messages through the neuro endocrine system which has impact on hormone control.

WHY DO YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FASCIA?

Exam Season

22/5/2023

With the A Levels, GCSEs college and university exam season in full swim how are the stress levels? This can be a stressful time for students and those around them.

Here are a few tips for helping the body physically and mentally during this time of intense study.

When revising, every 20 minutes look away from the screen for 20 seconds to something 20 meters away. This helps the strain on the eyes and the brain. Remember 20, 20, 20.

Every hour move the body, go outside, run up and down the stairs, or dance to some music.

Aim to sip water throughout the day and the day before the exam ensure you are well hydrated. When you become dehydrated you may feel headachy or foggy headed.

Ensure you get a good night sleep. When we are asleep the glymphatic system gets to work at clearing metabolites in the brain, ensuring you are clear headed in the morning.

Take some deep breaths, the act of breathing helps to calm the nervous system, and massages the digestive system and will help to maintain focus.

It may be tempting to reach for the sugar help keep going but try to maintain a more stable blood sugar. Snacking on nuts seeds, fruit, or cheese. My favourite snack is chopped apple and peanut butter.

If stress levels are becoming overwhelming (for parent or students!) book a Craniosacral Therapy appointment. Craniosacral Therapy can help release tension in the body, around the head and mobilise fluid flow around the brain. To find out more get in touch. www.craniosacraluk.com/contact.html

Retained Primitive and Postural Reflexes

5/5/2023

Did you know that Craniosacaral Therapy is not only beneficial for babies but it is also great for Children and Teenagers. During these years young people go through so many changes in their physical and emotional development it is important to check in with their body to ensure it has the capacity to adapt to these changes.

Does your child/teen find it difficult to concentrate, hold a pencil, hold themselves upright or fidget?

Do they have problems with balance and co-ordination?

Has your child been diagnosed with autism, ADHD, dyslexic or dyspraxia?

Does your child have anxiety, sleep disorders or mood swings?

Do they dislike labels on clothes or certain textures against skin, are fussy with different texture of foods, cling onto things, walk on tip toes, need to move around when trying to concentrate or sticking tongue out when writing.

These can all be signs of unintegrated or retained primitive reflexes.

So what are Primitive Reflexes?

Happy Healthy Hormones

12/3/2023

Hormones are chemical messengers that are transported through the body, delivering messages from our organs to our brain and vice versa. These chemicals coordinate different functions in the body by carrying messages to the organs, skin, muscles and other tissues. These signals tell the body what to do and when to do it.

Hormonal imbalance can cause insomnia, fatigue, irregular periods, hot flashes, mood swings, lack of focus, decreased libido, infertility, depression and headaches. Often, they can be the root of thyroid dysfunction, skin problems, hair loss, autoimmune disorders, weight gain, osteoporosis, irritability, anxiety, memory loss and even allergies.

Our body is constantly trying to keep us in equilibrium, but sometimes when there is disfunction or stress in the body things can go off balance. Are you balanced like the stones piled on the left or do you feel like you are constantly trying to hold it all together like the stones on the right?

Immune Health

12/2/2023

How have you been over this winter period? Have you suffered with any of the cold and flu viruses that have been doing the rounds? There has been some nasty throat infections and Covid on the rise again.
So what can you do to maintain a healthy immune system?

Gut Health

15/1/2023

So what does gut health have to do with Craniosacral Therapy?

In Craniosacral Therapy we work with the nervous system and I have previously written about the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems but did you know the gastro intestinal tract (GI) has its own nervous system call the Enteric Nervous system. The enteric nervous system regulates both digestive and absorptive processes and is located all along the GI tract from the mouth to the anus. The enteric nervous system connects with the central nervous system via the Vagus Nerve and other neural pathways. However it can also act independently of the Central nervous system which is why the digestive system is often referred to as the Second Brain as it has its own system of neurons and glial cells.
Have you every thought about the expressions 'gut instinct' and 'listen to your gut', having 'butterflies in your tummy'? Have you noticed that you may need to go to the loo more often when you are scared or stressed, or the opposite if you find that you are 'holding onto things"? These are all messages from your enteric nervous system and I would encourage you to listen to it.

Sometimes the lining of the gut can become 'damaged' and the protective epithelial layer develops 'holes' allowing allergens and pathogens to enter the blood stream. This is often termed leaky gut.

What else happens in the gut?

70% of your immune system is in your gut

50% of your domaine is found in the enteric nervous system. Dopamine helps nerve cells to send message to each other.

90% of the hormone serotonin is produced in the intestinal tract. Serotonin is the hormone responsible for affecting our mood, learning and memory. Without the correct balance of gut microbiome in the gastro intestinal tract, 40% less serotonin is produced. Not enough serotonin is thought to contribute to depression, so this is one of the link between food and mood.

In order for these processes to work effectively we need to look after our gut. Read on to find out what you can do to improve the functioning of you gut and enteric nervous system.

Seasons Greetings

11/12/2022

It is hard to believe we are coming to the end of 2022. How has the year been for you?
It's been a busy one for me, welcoming new and existing clients of all ages into the Cranial Base.
Didn't we have a long hot summer, it was lovely to have the door open bringing in the sunshine but I was also very grateful for the air-conditioning in the Cranial Base giving some relief for myself and my clients.
As the weather has got colder I'm happy to have a well insulated space to work and for my clients to feel cosy and warm.
It was good to see end of Covid restriction and face coverings. However there are viruses circulation so I continue to have hygiene procedures in place. It is also good to take care of your immune system at this time of year, especially with the higher levels of Strep A circulation in children at the moment. Take a look back at my blog Craniosacral therapy and the immune system
Have you enjoyed my blogs. I try to bring you relevant health tips. Your feedback is always well received. If you have any suggestions for further newsletters let me know.

Autumn Health Tips

15/11/2022

How are you doing now we are well and truly into Autumn? So far the days have been mild and a few days recently, I have been able to treat clients with the doors to the Cranial Base open, allowing the afternoon sunshine to flood in. I have enjoyed watching the colours of the trees change, especially the Acers which are a beautiful red. How are you feeling as we head into winter? Read on for a few tips to support your physical and emotional health this season.

Women's Health

6/10/2022

This is one of my favourite figurines from the Willow Tree. I bought it for my Mum when my daughter was younger and for me it represents our three generations. Do you see yourself in this figurine? I see lots of women in my practice who find themselves in the Sandwich Generation. This is where they are sandwiched between dependent children and dependent parents. This Sandwich Generation has come about in the last 20th century due to having children later in life and increase in lifespan. When you add in working, running a household and a change in hormone balance it is no wonder many women can struggle with the demands of daily life. October is World Menopause Month with Tuesday 18th being World Menopause Day, and I'm sure we will be seeing lots in the media about the Menopause. There are lots of things women can do to help relieve some of the symptoms of menopause and having the support of those around them can really help. So for all the men reading please continue as you may be able to understand and help your partner, sister, mother or work colleague.