Complementary Therapies offer support on National No Smoking Day

ON the 10 March 2010 it will be National No Smoking Day, but for anyone trying to quit smoking it is often easier said than done. Conventional wisdom says that smoking is a major cause of illness and death, including many preventable cancers, lung and circulatory diseases, as well as permanent damage to skin and gums (DoH, 2008). Cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 hazardous chemicals, these include; arsenic, carbon monoxide, tar, acetone, ammonia and formaldehyde (DoH, 2008). In the UK, 26% of adults smoke and in parts of the North West this can be as high as 52% (Smoke-Free North West, 2007).

However if you are a smoker looking to give up smoking, there is increasing support from the NHS with the use of Complementary Therapies. The Christie Hospital in Manchester has been offering Complementary Therapies for smoking cessation for many years with success. Paula Maycock, a clinical aromatherapist and Peter Mackereth, Clinical Lead for Complementary Therapies, are both trained in smoking cessation advice/support work. They provide a smoking cessation service within Christie cancer care hospital. The service started to develop 5 years ago and they see between 10 to 20 patients, carers and staff a week for help. Aside from providing advice and support with nicotine replacement products they also offer massage, aromatherapy, reflexology, hypnotherapy and acupuncture to help relieve stress and ease cravings associated with withdrawal. There is an increasing body of evaluation studies identifying that these therapies can have a valuable supportive and complementary role to pharmaceutical products.

One Complementary Therapy, Auricular Acupuncture, involves placing 5 very small sterile needles into each ear, which is said to manage the cravings and provide deep relaxation. In general 3 acupuncture sessions are provided for the patient but as each person is unique the number may vary. This treatment triggers the release of natural body chemicals, including endorphins, which help reduce cravings for cigarettes, ease withdrawal symptoms and increase relaxation.

Aromatherapy has also shown positive results for alleviating Nicotine cravings. It works by using essential oils, often through massage, which are prepared by a qualified practitioner. The oils are added to a base of cold pressed oil and then applied to the patients’ skin through a remedial relaxing massage. Results have shown that the inhalation, in addition to the relaxing effect, seem to reduce the urges for Nicotine.

The Federation of Holistic Therapists is the UK’s largest Complementary Therapy member organisation in the UK, with around 20,000 members, supports the work on Smoking Cessation by the Complementary Team at Christie Hospital. Commenting Melanie Prince, General Manager at the FHT says:- “Members of the public are not always aware that Complementary Therapies can be used successfully to stop smoking and also that therapies such as massage, aromatherapy, reflexology, hypnotherapy and acupuncture can help relieve stress and ease cravings associated with withdrawal”

To find out more visit:- fht.org.uk or call:- 0844 875 20 22

Your local FHT member is Marcus Croman - Sports Injury Therapy, visit his advert on Mersey Reporter   or call him on:- 0787 038 2109 to book a relaxing combination of Manipulation, Sports Massage, Swedish Massage and Exercise.

Climate Change boss must go says MEP

THE head of the scientific body that assesses evidence of global warming should step down, says a North West MEP.

Chris Davies claims that the conclusions of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have not been shaken by recent criticisms, but admits that political will for action has been weakened.

He is calling for IPCC chairman Rajendra Pachauri to offer his resignation to assist the organisation in regaining its authority.

Davies said:- “Trust in the independence and absolute integrity of the IPCC’s conclusions is vital if politicians are to have public support for the actions that must be taken to combat global warming. Dr Pachauri has been targeted by climate change deniers with commercial interests to defend. It may be unfair but damage has been done.”

Despite cold weather in Britain and Northern Europe, across the world as a whole it was the second-hottest January since surface temperatures were first measured 130 years ago.

Davies commented:- “If true it will be a reminder that short term changes in local weather bear no relation to long term changes in global climate. While we freeze, others boil.”

Southport's James Cole now in F3
Photograph and report by Craig Boon

FOLLOWING our story from the 17 January 2010, that the local 21 year old racing star James Cole, from Southport, who is the current reigning British Formula Ford champion, will be graduating to Formula 3 (archived report).   We can now tell you he has confirmed this and he will be racing in the British F3 Championship with the multi-race winning T-Sport team.  He will line up his No.44 Dallara-Mugen-Honda car alongside team mates Alex Brundle, who is the son of the famous British F1 racer and now F1 TV commentator and Menasheh Idafar.  Competing in the National F3 series will enable James to try once more for the coveted McLaren Autosport Young Driver Award for which was a finalist in 2009.  If you wish to follow James on the track, the 10 event season starts at our local Oulton Park circuit on the 3 April to 5 April 2010, before moving to Silverstone for the next round of races on the 1 May to 2 May 2010. We wish him all the very best of luck...

Did you know? In 2009 he was in 26 races. he had 7 wins and 16 podiums.   He had 5 pole positions and gained 7 fastest race laps over the season...

CAMPAIGN TO REDUCE UNDERAGE DRINKING LAUNCHED - KNOCK THEM BACK

MERSEYSIDE Police and Trading Standards Alcohol & Tobacco Unit have launched the 'Knock Them Back' campaign in Tesco on Mather Avenue to remind adults of the consequences of buying alcohol for young people.

The campaign has been funded by South Liverpool Neighbourhood Management Services and is supported by Liverpool Primary Care Trust. Staff in Tesco are wearing t-shirts asking 'Can you afford a £5,000 hangover?'. There are also posters in all local licensed premises reminding adults to 'knock them back' if young people ask them to buy alcohol on their behalf.

Childwall, Church and Mossley Hill Neighbourhood Inspector Andy Wignall says:- "Under-age drinkers desperate for alcohol approach people outside shops asking them to buy it for them.We want to make adults aware that there is a fine of up to £5,000 and a criminal conviction for buying alcohol for under-18s. But these are not the only consequences, we know that young people who are drinking are more likely to commit anti-social behaviour, damaging our community and making lives miserable for some of our residents. We hope that this campaign will raise awareness and make people think twice before they purchase alcohol for any underage."

Elizabeth Hartley, Assistant Neighbourhood Manager at South Liverpool Neighbourhood Management Services added that:- "Under age drinking in the south of the city is a concern for residents and local councillors. The South Liverpool Neighbourhood Team was therefore pleased to support this campaign which discourages adults from purchasing alcohol on behalf of young people."