ciren wellbeing

November 2014

Also in this edition:

Self-help for joint & muscle pain

Stress: The balancing act

Discover Bowen, begin healing

Find equilibrium in autumn

Homeopathy for colds & flu

Allowing

time to settle

The essence of

craniosacral work

Autumn herbs and

autumn people

What to grow and what

to take in autumn

The autumn brain

Primitive instincts present a

modern challenge

Welcome to the first ever edition of Ciren Wellbeing! The

theme for this edition is ‘autumn’, and it’s packed full of self-

help advice and interesting insights into the wonderful world of

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM).

When we decided to publish Ciren Wellbeing, we wanted to

create a free resource where local people could discover natural

ways to get well and stay well, whether through self-help or by

seeing a qualified local CAM practitioner. Thanks to our expert

contributors, we think we’ve achieved our goal. Enjoy!

Sarah & Ri

Sarah Attwell-Griffiths, Acupuncturist

(Lic Ac, BSc (Hons) Acu, MBAcC)

Ri Ferrier, Craniosacral Therapist

(BA (Hons), RCST)

Please get in touch We want Ciren Wellbeing to be an enjoyable and useful read,

so we would love to know what you want to see in our next

quarterly edition due out in February 2015. We also welcome

your comments on this edition. Please get in touch via email at

sarah@coriniumacupuncture.co.uk or riferrier@waitrose.com.

Are you a local CAM

practitioner? We’re already looking for contributors for our next edition. If

you are a qualified CAM practitioner serving people in the

Cirencester area and would like to submit an article for publica-

tion in Ciren Wellbeing, email Sarah at

sarah@coriniumacupuncture.co.uk.

Welcome!

What’s inside?

Is my pain worse now the

weather is cooler?

Self-help for joint and muscle

pain

Finding equilibrium

A Chinese medical take on

staying healthy in autumn

Discover Bowen

Find out what the Bowen

Technique is all about

Stress: the balancing act

Combatting adrenaline and

cortisol

Autumn herbs and

autumn people

What to grow and what to take

in autumn

Allowing time to settle

The essence of craniosacral

work

Homeopathy and the

autumn equinox

Discover a homeopathic reme-

dy for colds and flu

Begin the healing

process

How the Bowen Technique

lets your body heal itself

The autumn brain

Primitive instincts present a

modern challenge

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Rob and Laura are the owners

of Dyer St Chiropractic clinic

in the centre of Cirencester. As

the temperatures start to drop,

the team chat through the most

common questions they get

asked in the run up to Christ-

mas each year.

Why is my joint pain worse in

winter?

R: I find that it isn’t the cold

or snow that makes joint pain

worse. It is the damp, rainy

weather, especially when the

weather is changeable, mild one

day and raining the next. This

change in weather causes a

change in air pressure. The

change is pressure is what af-

fects the joint capsules, result-

ing in varying levels of pain and

stiffness as the seasons change.

My back stiffness is worse in

the morning. What can I do?

L: It is common to feel stiff

and tight when first getting up

in the morning. It is probably a

good idea to change your rou-

tine in the morning when the

weather is cooler. Spend 10

minutes walking and moving

around, then have a shower or a

warm bath, then run through

some simple back stretches (we

can show you how to do these).

What are the best ways for

me to relax muscle tension?

R: Across the shoulder s and

in the lower back are the key

areas where people hold ten-

sion. Most of the time I find this

is to do with posture, sitting for

long periods and stress. In the

winter, the best self-treatment

for general aches and pains is to

warm up the area. Use a heat

pack across the shoulders and at

the base of the spine when sat

in the evening. A warm shower

or a hot bath also helps (be

careful sitting in the bath for too

long with low back pain). Go-

ing for a swim is a wonderful

way to help yourself. It gets you

moving, which I think is part of

the problem in the winter. Wrap

up and keep yourself warm so

you don’t end up walking

hunched up and tense.

How can I help ease muscle

pain across the shoulders?

L: Circle your shoulders 20

times both ways and then spend

some time focusing on bringing

your shoulders down and back.

Sit up straight and squeeze your

shoulder blades together to take

the stress off the shoulder mus-

cles. There is a good stretch for

the muscles across the shoul-

ders which should be done if

you are going to be sat all day.

Sit up straight with good pos-

ture, sit on your left hand, bend

your neck moving your right

ear towards your right shoulder.

Hold this position for 30 sec-

onds increasing the stretch

when you can. Repeat on the

other side. Repeat morning and

afternoon and you’ll feel a big

improvement in your muscle

tension.

Is my pain worse now the

weather is cooler?

Dr. Laura Gibbs,

Dr. Robert Beaven

Doctors of Chiropractic

Rob and Laura help local Ciren-cester people with back pain, muscle aches and joint pain. There is no need to be referred by a GP. The team have day time, evening and Saturday morning appointments availa-ble. dyerstchiropractic.com info@dyerstchiropractic.com 01285 671442

1

The shadows have lengthened,

the trees are letting the last of

their auburn leaves fall away,

and we sense a deepening

stillness in the Cotswolds. The

air is suffused with a curious

mixture of loss and reverence.

With the passing of Samhain in

the way-back-when, we would

store our precious food reserves

for winter. Now, we store our

inner reserves in ways we bare-

ly notice. We stay indoors a

little more, we go to bed a little

earlier, we move a little slower.

The Cotswolds is thousands of

miles and thousands of years

from the roots of modern Chi-

nese medicine, where and when

Daoist philosophers described

how the stillness of winter’s

Yin increases while the exuber-

ance of summer’s Yang fades.

Yet these principals still govern

the way our emotions and bod-

ies respond to the strange inbe-

tweeness of autumn.

In the poetic language of Chi-

nese medicine, precious metal

is used as a metaphor for the

essence of autumn, the “Metal

Element”. The Metal Element

describes that aspect of nature

that creates cathedrals of bared

trees, their lost leaves gold un-

der our feet. It also describes

that aspect of our being that

enables us to know what is

valuable; to see the particles of

gold in the dirt. As it enables us

to know what is precious, it also

enables us to know what it is to

lose that preciousness. By ex-

tension, the Metal Element

gives us our ability to feel both

reverence and grief.

In its wonderful way with meta-

phor, Chinese medicine goes on

to associate the Metal Element

with our bodies. It observes

how both awe and grief take our

breath away, and it associates

breathing with the Metal Ele-

ment. It is curious to observe

how this time of year brings any

vulnerability in our respiratory

systems to the fore. The NHS

offers flu vaccinations and acu-

puncturists usher those with

respiratory problems in for

preventative treatment.

There are also things that we

can do for ourselves to find

physical and emotional equilib-

rium at this time of year: Chi-

nese medicine encourages us to

follow our instinct to slow

down, to withdraw a little, to

recognise that our physical and

emotional reserves are valuable,

and to conserve them. It tells us

to protect our precious bodies

from the cold with scarves and

coats, and by avoiding cold

foods. It encourages us to eat

foods that ward off respiratory

tract infections, like horserad-

ish, garlic, fresh ginger, honey

and liquorice. Chinese medicine

also tells us to recognise the

once-precious things that we

have lost and to allow ourselves

to grieve at this time of year. It

encourages us to seek out still,

beautiful places where we can

feel the awe and reverence that

provides the emotional ballast

necessary for the experience of

grief.

With the storing of our precious

reserves and the passing of

grief, we can enter the absolute

stillness of winter’s half-sleep;

that quiet coalescing of our

deepest reserves in preparation

for the rocketing birth of spring.

Finding equilibrium

Sarah Attwell-Griffiths

Acupuncturist (Lic Ac, BSc (Hons) Acu, MBAcC)

Sarah holds a First Class BSc Hons degree in acupuncture and has published ground-breaking research in the Euro-pean Journal of Oriental Medi-cine. Sarah offers daytime, evening and weekend appoint-ments, online bookings and card payment facilities. coriniumacupuncture.co.uk sarah@coriniumacupuncture.co.uk 07825 360621

2

As the leaves fall, the temper-

ature drops and the days grow

shorter we feel our minds and

bodies instinctively slow down

and turn inward. Our ances-

tors would have used this time

to prepare their bodies for the

long winter months ahead, when

saving energy and surviving

harsh conditions were the priori-

ties. In our modern world this

natural time of change, of let-

ting go and resting, no longer

coincides with a change in life-

style. With our lives busier than

ever, and autumn no excuse to

slow down, we push our bodies

ever further, increasing our

exposure to physical, mental

and emotional stress. We take

for granted that our bodies will

deal with everything we throw

at them, but when something

goes wrong, our lives can be

heavily impacted and we want

recovery to be swift.

By allowing the body to do the

work of investigating the source

of the problem and making the

necessary changes, the process

of readjustment can be rapid and

long-lasting. This is exactly

what the Bowen Technique

does. In a series of gentle, roll-

ing-type moves performed over

very specific areas of muscle

and other soft tissue the body is

encouraged to investigate areas

of pain or dysfunction. Work-

ing with the autonomic nervous

system, the body is encouraged

into a state of relaxation, allow-

ing the healing process to begin.

This is facilitated by two-minute

breaks given by the therapist

between each set of moves.

The process of realignment and

adjustment which the body un-

dergoes can continue for several

days following a treatment as

the body sets its own pace for

healing to occur.

A Bowen treatment encom-

passes the whole person, often

enabling the body to address

several issues at one time. The

technique is highly effective for

treating muscular-skeletal prob-

lems such as back pain, frozen

shoulder, whiplash, sports inju-

ries and sciatica as well as or-

ganic conditions including asth-

ma, fibromyalgia, ME, digestive

problems, infertility, menstrual

problems and baby colic. Even

long-standing conditions can be

relieved in a small number of

treatments. Usually only 2-3

sessions are required to bring

about long-term results, with

many people finding relief in

the days following their first

treatment. Because the tech-

nique is gentle and has no side-

effects it is suitable for everyone

from newborn babies to the very

elderly. With no oils used, a

treatment can be performed

through light clothing and can

be adapted for those unable to

lie on a couch or who are con-

fined to a wheelchair.

There is nobody who could not

potentially benefit from this

powerful, highly effective thera-

py, which works with the

body’s own systems to restore

balance and harmony.

So as you feel your body yearn-

ing to hibernate this autumn,

take note of all those niggling

aches and pains. Embrace this

season of change; rest and nur-

ture your body through the cold,

dark months. By trusting and

allowing your body to restore

equilibrium you will emerge

rested and strong when spring

finally arrives.

Discover Bowen

Jodie Bensley-Jones

Bowen Therapist

Jodie is a qualified and insured Bowen Therapist offering day-time, evening and weekend treatments. Treatments can be performed at your home or workplace at a time suit you, or at The Cotswold Academy in Cirencester. To book a treat-ment or discuss how the Bowen Technique can help, contact Jodie by telephone or email. jodiebensley.co.uk jodie.bensley@yahoo.co.uk 07803 056799

3

The 16th National Stress Aware-

ness Day was on 5th November.

This year’s theme was ‘Stress:

the balancing act’. Solution

Focused Hypnotherapist,

Wendy Page reflects on how

she helps her clients to gain

control across their work, play

and lifestyle.

If I look back over 2014 I have

worked with clients aged 8 to

80, all of whom sought support

for stress or anxiety related

conditions; from behavioural

issues, severe panic attacks

leading to agoraphobia in ex-

treme cases. Stress affects us

all, no more so than in the

workplace. By far the largest

percentage of clients I have

helped are from professional

backgrounds – financial advi-

sors, teachers, nurses, HR/IT

experts, graphic designers – all

of whom were looking for help

to reduce excessive pressure in

their lives.

Our early ancestors faced very

real hazards on a daily basis,

resulting in the development of

stress responses to enable sur-

vival against predators. In real-

ity, we rarely face life-

threatening situations, but we

all still have the in-built auto-

matic response which activates

when our minds perceive we

are in danger, regardless of

whether the threat is ‘real’ or

not. We are not that far re-

moved from cavemen. Even

though difficulties at work, a

house move, exams or relation-

ship problems are not life-

threatening, they are the kind of

situations that will cause us to

become stressed, which invokes

a primitive reaction.

When we feel under threat, we

secrete the stress hormones

adrenaline and cortisol, which

have a profound effect on our

bodies. Adrenaline increases

our heart rate and raises our

blood pressure. Cortisol in-

creases sugar levels in our

blood; it also suppresses the

functioning of internal systems,

such as our immune response,

digestion and reproductive sys-

tem. Our moods are also affect-

ed, impacting our motivation

and generating fear.

Prolonged stress can even affect

our short-term memory. In a

study, researchers from the

University of Iowa found a link

between high levels of cortisol

and the gradual loss of synapses

in the part of the brain that pro-

cesses short-term memory.

Synapses are connections that

process, store, and recall infor-

mation. Repeated and long-term

exposure to cortisol can cause

them to shrink and disappear,

potentially contributing to men-

tal decline and memory loss as

we age.

Stress can manifest itself in a

number of ways; extreme anxie-

ty, digestive problems, high

blood pressure, sleep problems,

weight gain, concentration

problems and decision-making

impairment.

I work with clients to help low-

er stress levels by enabling

them to relax. This gives their

mind and body respite from the

hormonal onslaught. Then, by

using solution focused therapy

techniques, I encourage clients

to respond to their situation in a

more constructive and positive

way, focusing on future events

and looking at ways to make

tomorrow better than today.

Stress: the balancing act

Wendy Page

Solution Focused

Hypnotherapist

Wendy is a fully qualified Solu-tion Focused Hypnotherapist at The Complete Health Centre. Please call 07880 336723 to book a free 45-60 mi-nute initial consultation or visit shinehypnotherapy.co.uk for more details. shinehypnotherapy.co.uk wendy@shinehypnotherapy.co.uk 07880 336723

Just as the year has four sea-

sons, many systems of healing

have a fourfold classification

of the ‘cold, hot, damp and

dry’ kind. The tr aditional

‘humours’ of sanguine, choleric,

melancholic and phlegmatic are

still useful in identifying medic-

inal herbs which will suit indi-

vidual people. Just as we have a

season which suits our nature,

so we have a natural affinity to

different plants. Autumn people

prefer to save than to spend, are

often uncomfortable in hot,

humid climates and are prone to

moist ailments: catarrh, chesti-

ness, candida and athlete’s foot.

In the autumn garden one of the

most popular flowering plants

are the Rudbeckias and the

Echinaceas. Echinacea is the

most well-known medicinal

herb, and is widely taken as an

over-the-counter remedy for

winter infections. It is an Amer-

ican plant, used for hundreds of

years by the native people there

and brought back to Europe by

settlers. Echinacea is somehow

a masculine plant, with a very

strong action. It is the root and

rhizome which are used in med-

icine. It contains seven major

pharmacologically active com-

pounds, the chief of which has

significant immune-enhancing

and mild anti-inflammatory

properties. It promotes tissue

regeneration and is antiviral and

antibacterial, active against

Staphylococcus aureus and

other organisms. It is readily

available in tincture form so do

not be tempted to dig it up from

the garden.

Another important root harvest-

ed in the autumn is that of an-

other Compositae member,

Inula helenium, the elecampane

with its yellow daisy flowers.

Found growing wild and in

gardens, Inula is a remedy pri-

marily used for the lungs. The

essential oil is antiseptic (active,

like Echinacea, against the TB

bacillus) and stimulates the

‘escalator’ of tiny hairs which

bring mucus up from the lungs,

and the saponins it contains

stimulate the bronchi to expel

mucus. A valuable remedy for

congested lungs, especially in

the elderly, it is prepared by

chopping the fresh root into

small pieces for drying. The

powdered root can be infused in

water in a vacuum flask the

better to extract the volatile oil.

As the name suggests, it con-

tains inulin, which acts as a

probiotic, attracting beneficial

digestive bacteria to the interac-

tive gut surfaces.

Unlike Echinacea, liquorice

(Glycyrrhiza glabra) is unlikely

to feature in the flower garden

as it only has delicate (for which

read ‘insignificant’) flowers.

Harvested in autumn, glycyr-

rhiza (meaning ‘sweet root’)

contains, among other active

compounds, triterpenoid sapo-

nins which interact closely with

the hormones of the adrenal

cortex. It has anti-inflammatory

and anti-arthritic effects similar

to hydrocortisone. It also creates

a viscous lining to the stomach,

reducing gastric erosion, and is

widely used for treating people

with peptic ulcers. It is much

sweeter than sucrose and is used

to make delicious confectionery.

In large doses it can raise blood

pressure, and should only be

used cautiously without medical

advice.

Most common herbal reme-

dies are safe to use at home,

but if in doubt seek advice

from a qualified medical

herbalist such as a member of

the National Institute of Medi-

cal Herbalists. (nimh.org.uk)

Autumn herbs & autumn people

Caroline Sheldrick

Medical Herbalist (MNIMH)

Caroline is a medical herbalist practising in Swindon, Ciren-cester, Nailsworth and Stroud. carolinesheldrickmedical herbalist.co.uk

cjsheldrick@gmail.com

01453 884 092

At this time of year, we can

often end up feeling tired and

exhausted. Ruled by the r e-

lentless demands of our busy

work and home lives, we find

that we cannot follow the natu-

ral rhythms of the change of

seasons. Where nature tends to

slow down at this time of year,

our lives tend to follow the

same pattern that they did in

Spring and Summer when the

days were long and the sun was

shining!

Learning to settle helps to slow

down the pace of life and helps

the body to re-access its re-

sources. Even a short space of

settling (10-15 minutes) can

have a harmonious impact on

your wellbeing. That’s be-

cause, in the settled place, time

opens up and we become im-

mense, absorbing everything

that we are.

Have you ever taken the time to

watch an autumn leaf meander

to the ground? This is a perfect

visual of what it means to settle

within oneself, the essence of

craniosacral work.

The dance between our inner

world and the outer world is the

key to health. Separation cre-

ates disease; it creates disso-

nance. Our bodies are always

seeking to return to balance but

we tend to rest within confine-

ment, focussing on the outer

world and ignoring the core

pattern that has built up within

our bodies. Settling within one-

self allows you to witness the

unfolding story within your

body – moment by moment. It

allows you to access the poten-

cy that is there – your own pool

of vitality.

Learning to settle is not diffi-

cult; anyone can do it. Your

attention will ebb and flow and

this is natural, so just let it be.

Concentrating on the breath

automatically settles the body

and your senses become more

open. Even one deep breath is a

huge resource for your body

and soul. This is usually the

best starting point!

Next, imagine a plumbline from

the crown of your head, down

through your spine and entering

into the ground. This is your

midline, and your body organis-

es itself around it. You may

become aware of parts of your

body that feel ‘tight’ or ‘stuck’.

Again, just acknowledge this

and bring your attention back to

your midline and breathing.

You may experience a ‘tide-

like’ motion through your body

– this is the ‘breath of life’ and

is the absolute nature of things,

the energy of life. Now, imag-

ine yourself back at a time or

place where you felt good:

maybe laughing with friends,

out in nature or listening to

music. Allow your body to

remember this experience, not

just your mind. Let it expand

throughout your body. Feel

how this makes you feel more

spacious, more open and more

relaxed. In this place, you can

really know the answer to ‘what

makes me feel strong inside?’

You can come back to this

place at any time – settling is a

great life skill to enable you to

meet the world in a more skilful

way.

Allowing time to settle

Ri Ferrier

Craniosacral Therapist (BA (Hons), RCST)

Ri trained with Resonance Training and is accredited by the Craniosacral Therapy Asso-ciation. She has also trained in the Beauty Way Native Ameri-can Medicine path with Arwyn DreamWalker for the last 12 years. Ri offers sessions from Cotswold Academy in Cirences-ter on Thursdays and Fridays. riferrier.co.uk riferrier@waitrose.com 07970 555348

6

Autumn has finally arrived

after such a long and prosper-

ous summer and I couldn't

help but wonder, what does

the word “equinox” actually

mean? On investigation, the

meaning is “the natural atmos-

phere of the earth”. In simpler

terms it is “the ambiance, con-

dition and status”.

What is our “state and condi-

tion” at this time of year when

all is damp and all is dark?

What can be done to keep our

immune system healthy

throughout the coming months

of winter when we are sur-

rounded by an entourage of

coughs, colds, sore throats and

flu?

Let us maintain our “ambiance”

this autumn and revitalize our

immune system with energy, a

dynamic energy, with a dynam-

ic medicine.

Homeopathic medi-

cines help to stimu-

late the body's own

natural healing

mechanism and it is

a complementary medicine.

What does that mean exactly?

Homeopathy can be used along-

side other treatments and will

not interfere with the beneficial

effects of conventional medi-

cine. It also has the bonus of

being safe, gentle, nontoxic and

free from side effects. What

would I recommend for colds

and flu?

GELSEMIUM,

Scented Jasmine

This is wonderful for the char-

acteristic symptoms of flu:

vague aches and pains, chills up

and down the spine, a heavy

feeling in the head and weari-

ness with sore muscles that feel

bruised.

It is also useful for

colds with the ac-

companying symp-

toms: profuse sweat-

ing, fever, sneezing,

copious watery dis-

charge from the nose and a sore

throat with shooting pains when

swallowing.

The homeopathic remedy is

matched to the person’s symp-

toms in a like for like fashion.

So, if you have three or more of

the symptoms mentioned, then

Gelsemium could help you to

feel better.

Homeopathy has

been used for over two

hundred years and is pop-

ular worldwide. In the UK

12% of the population trust

homeopathy1.

(1) Global TGI Barometer;

issue 33; Jan-08

Homeopathy and the

autumn equinox

Natalie Williams

Registered Homeopath

Natalie is a registered, insured and licenced homeopath, work-ing alongside GPs at the Phoe-nix Surgery in South Cer-ney. Natalie also has a clinic in Northampton. nataliewilliamshomeopathy.co.uk

07952 735805

The Complementary Suite The Surgery Clarke's Hay South Cerney

What would I

recommend for

colds and flu?

7

Having only lived here for

just over two years I am still

enchanted by Autumn in The

Cotswolds on a daily basis. It

may be that this deep apprecia-

tion will last forever. I hope so.

I am mostly struck by autumn’s

ability to ease me and hopefully

everyone, into Winter. Whilst I

am busy admiring stunning red,

orange and gold trees and

shrubs, set against a bright blue

sky with fluffy white clouds,

the weeks tick by. More pheas-

ants and partridges scuttle up

and down the roads, themselves

beautiful and colourful. It is all

truly breath taking.

The air becomes

cooler and crisper

and the thrill of

the first fire of

Autumn builds.

Eventually it is

cold enough and

everyone heads to

the sofa to soak

up the warmth

and atmosphere

that the fire inevi-

tably creates.

Throughout this

change outside we also start to

notice changes within our bod-

ies. Often we feel more tired,

less inclined to venture out in

the evenings. The dreaded

“colds” start and our eating

habits change.

It is therefore always useful to

look after ourselves during

these changes. Re-balancing,

thus helping the body to heal

itself naturally, is vital.

The Bowen Technique is one

way to achieve this. A gentle

form of bodywork using subtle

moves over key structural

points in the body, The Bowen

Technique is a truly holistic

therapy which can target a spe-

cific problem or address the

body as a whole.

It is extremely gentle and is

considered appropriate for any-

one from pregnant women to

new born babies, the frail and

the elderly. It can assist recov-

ery from many conditions, from

traumatic injury

to chronic illness,

depending upon

the individual’s

capacity to heal.

A series of very

gentle and pre-

cise Bowen

moves are per-

formed over the

muscles and

connective tissue,

sending messag-

es deep into the

body, retrieving cellular

memory of a relaxed, balanced

way of well being and initiating

a cascade of beneficial changes

that continue for several days.

The technique addresses not

only the musculoskeletal frame-

work, but also the fascia, nerves

and internal organs. The body's

integrated response may im-

prove circulation and lymphatic

drainage, aiding the assimila-

tion of nutrients and elimination

of toxins.

There are frequent but essential

pauses throughout the session

that allow the body time to

assimilate each move and begin

the healing process.

Begin the healing process

Karen Benbow

Bowen Therapist

Karen qualified with The Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia in June 2004 and belongs to The Bowen Association UK. She is qualified to the advanced Bowen standard and has com-pleted the Bowen for Mothers and Babies course. Karen practices from the Cirencester Hypnotherapy & Health Centre at 84 Dyer Street. karenbenbow.co.uk

karen.benbow@bowen-technique.co.uk

07786 971041

It is extremely

gentle and is

considered

appropriate for

anyone from

pregnant women

to new born

babies, the frail

and the elderly.

Spring naturally merges into

Summer, then the energy

shifts as the leaves turn gold-

en and russet, the air turns

crisp and the nights start to

draw in with the winds of

change, and suddenly Au-

tumn is surprisingly upon us.

In nature, the smaller animals

start gathering nuts fallen from

the trees’ abundant offering, in

preparation for hibernation. We,

as humans, also start to think

about battening down the hatch-

es in preparation for the darker,

colder months. The human

brain is a mysterious organ.

Depending which part is acti-

vated, it will perceive this

'change' as a threat and go into

hibernation mode, or it will

adapt and embrace the benefits

that the change can bring.

We have two 'mind manage-

ment' systems in our brain. The

primitive part, which is the

original and central part of the

brain that was predominantly

used when we were living as

cave dwellers. Our primitive

mind is the emotional part of

our mind that is on constant

look out for perceived threat. It

is programmed to keep us safe,

and essentially alive. It is a

mind that behaves very much

like a stuck record and reacts to

changes in the environment in a

vigilant manner. This can mani-

fest in feelings of unease, anxie-

ty or even feeling low and de-

pressed.

We also have the much more

evolved outer cortex, the intel-

lectual mind that understands,

welcomes and adapts to con-

stantly changing modern ad-

vancement and innovation. Our

intellectual mind is the part of

our brain that makes sense of

our lives, is flexible and makes

allowances for the changes that

are happening in our environ-

ment.

When the season changes from

summer vibrancy, to the au-

tumn retreat, the brain can quite

easily slip into primitive think-

ing and go into protective hiber-

nation mode. If we were still

cave dwellers, we would not be

surprised if our mood and hab-

its changed from being happily

active to more vigilant as the

daylight hours lessened. The

nights drawing in presented

increased danger to the cave

dweller. The primitive response

to less daylight is a heightened

sense of vigilance and high alert

because it associates darkness

with danger.

This can explain why we see an

increase in disorders such as

SAD (Seasonally Affected Dis-

order) and depression in the

darker months. The way we

suggest combating feeling SAD

or depressed due to the change

in season is to learn how to

access the evolved intellectual

mind, which is the part of our

brain that can remind us that we

are not in primitive times any-

more, and that change is inevi-

table rather than dangerous.

Solution focused hypnotherapy

teaches simple mind manage-

ment skills, enabling access to

the intellectual mind to stay in

control over emotional reac-

tions to change. These skills

include learning how to deeply

relax, focus concentration on

the positive things in your life

and learning how to adapt and

benefit from your ever changing

environment.

The autumn brain

Dipti Tait, Toby Sillence

Solution Focused

Hypnotherapists

The Cotswold Practice is a discreet and luxurious hypno-therapy practice based in the heart of Cirencester. We have two therapy rooms and we are open 7 days a week, and also have evening slots available. Dipti: 07818 050999 diptitait@gmail.com

Toby: 07769 666365 tobysillence@gmail.com

thecotswoldpractice.com cotswoldhypnobirthing.com

Acupuncture

Sarah Attwell-Griffiths

coriniumacupuncture.co.uk

sarah@coriniumacupuncture.co.uk

07825 360621

Bowen Technique

Jodie Bensley-Jones

jodiebensley.co.uk

jodie.bensley@yahoo.co.uk

07803 056799

Karen Benbow

karenbenbow.co.uk

karen.benbow@bowen-technique.co.uk

07786 971041

Chiropractic

Dr Laura Gibbs, Dr Robert

Beaven

dyerstchiropractic.com

info@dyerstchiropractic.com

01285 671442

Craniosacral Therapy

Ri Ferrier

riferrier.co.uk

riferrier@waitrose.com

07970 555348

Homeopathy

Natalie Williams

nataliewilliamshomeopathy.co.uk

07952 735805

Hypnotherapy

Dipti Tait, Toby Sillence

thecotswoldpractice.com

cotswoldhypnobirthing.com

Dipti: diptitait@gmail.com

07818 050999

Toby: tobysillence@gmail.com

07769 666365

Wendy Page

shinehypnotherapy.co.uk

wendy@shinehypnotherapy.co.uk

07880 336723

Medical Herbalism

Caroline Sheldrick

carolinesheldrickmedicalherbalist.co.uk

cjsheldrick@gmail.com

01453 884 092

Are you a local CAM practitioner?

If you are a qualified CAM practitioner

serving people in or near Cirencester and

would like to submit an article for

publication, email Sarah at

sarah@coriniumacupuncture.co.uk.

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