Treating Insomnia with Accupuncture

                                                         

If you are unable to sleep in some capacity throughout the night, you may have a form of insomnia.

You may have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or both, or you may wake early before your alarm unable to get back to sleep.

Chinese medicine works on the principle that all these different forms of sleeplessness point to a deeper, underlying imbalance that needs to be addressed so that you can benefit from a quality night’s sleep.

If you are someone who suffers from any degree of insomnia, traditional Chinese acupuncture may be able to help you.

HOW DOES TRADITIONAL CHINESE ACUPUNCTURE TREAT INSOMNIA?

In order to treat insomnia, your practitioner will focus on three specific aspects of your health:

[ The specific pattern of your sleep problem

[ Your emotional health and the effects of stress in your life

[ The condition of your physical health and general wellbeing

 Knowing these things provides your acupuncturist with important information regarding the root of your insomnia (the underlying condition which may be causing or contributing to the problem). An “underlying condition” can be anything from work related stress to habitual, repressed or unresolved emotions. It could also be a pattern of pain/discomfort while sleeping, a result of menopause or ageing or even a problem rooted in your digestion. The point is, in Chinese medicine, if your health is suffering in one area, your sleep will reflect that problem. Once these factors are identified, your practitioner will tailor a treatment to simultaneously address your root condition and your sleep problem with the aim of restoring a normal sleep cycle for you as soon as possible.

PLEASE NOTE

 Traditional Chinese acupuncture is not a substitute for Western medicine. It is a complimentary therapy. If you have a specific medical condition, always follow appropriate Western medical advice.

We are members of the British Acupuncture Council and abide by a code of ethics maintaining high standards of education discipline and practice.                          

PRESS

Toyah Willcox – Toyah Willcox Cured Insomnia With Acupuncture

British singer Toyah Willcox has credited acupuncture with ending her 40 years of insomnia.

The I Want to Be Free hitmaker began suffering disturbed sleep when she studied for exams as a teenager, and she continued to struggle after finding fame in the 1980s. Willcox, 54, explored alternative therapies after suffering a bad reaction to medication, and since her first acupuncture session last June (12), she has finally been able to sleep through the night.

She tells Britain's Daily Express newspaper, "I'm teetotal and health conscious so I decided to look into more natural methods of curing my sleep problems. I drink Chamomile tea and use aromatherapy.

"I'd tried (acupuncture) 30 years ago for some joint pain and, while it was successful, I didn't think anything would help me sleep. However, I went along for a session in June last year and I was so relaxed I fell asleep.

"At first I went for a session every week but now my consultant says I only need a 90-minute top-up session every three months. Acupuncture has made all the difference to my sleep. "Now when I go to bed at midnight I can sleep for seven hours. I have more energy and my brain feels more alert."

22 January 2013, Contactmusic

About us                

WWW.HEATHLANDSCLINIC.COM

Members of the British Acupuncture Council, we are two sisters who work and trained together in Traditional Chinese medicine. We offer effective caring and Individual professional help for all your unwanted ailments. We also offer Reflexology.

Over the years we have built up vast clinical experience in our private practice and have effectively treated a wide range of conditions. We are committed to listening to your needs, formulating treatment plans for you as individuals and offer you continual, caring support through all your ups and downs on your journey to better health.

Treatments focus on the root of your condition as well as your individual symptoms which often leads to a more lasting solution to your problem. All treatments are safe and aimed at working harmoniously alongside Western medicine.

Martine and Natalie will be working from our Treatment Suite at All About You every Tuesday. To arrange a free consultation please CONTACT US at the studio. 

Are You Summer Ready?

Your summer holiday is fast approaching and I’m pretty sure that right now your mind is focused on how you will look and feel when it’s time to take the layers off.

Feel like it’s a little late to get started on a healthy eating and exercise plan? Are you starting to panic when thinking about yourself in your summer clothing?

Well you’ll be happy to know all is not lost. 

Sure it may feel a little late to get yourself started on a summer shake-up plan but however much time you have left can be used wisely to create the change you desire.   I am not suggesting for one minute that it is all about the aesthetic, but if the aesthetic is a means to bring about a happier you at this time of year then there are ways you can big about big changes in a short space of time.

As the time is limited you will first need to decide, act then commit.   Decide what it is you actually want to achieve, begin to act, then commit on seeing it through.  These essential ingredients will go some way in making your holiday a happier one, and by knowing you made that last ditch effort you can go away fully deserving that pat on the back rather than feeling like you wasted away valuable time.

Ok so you’re still with me, great! Where to begin I hear you ask? Firstly write out how many days you have till you go away and you can now work back to today and plan the amount of time you can commit to this.

If you are to have the biggest impact on your health and fat loss in the time you have remaining till you depart these shores then you need to know the most impactful action you can take is to cut out all of what your liver deems a toxin.  Avoiding the likes of alcohol, wheat, gluten, caffeine, sugar and processed foods will help you shed the pounds super quick and by adding a healthy 3-4 litres of water a day you can be safe in the knowledge that you are on the path to success.  A good night sleep is vitally important too and a topic which is to be discussed sometime soon.

To some it may seem a little drastic, but of course because you haven’t been too kind to yourself over the last few months so you’ll need all the impetus to get the new you ready for beach time. 

You may have realised that I haven’t yet spoken of exercise.  It too is important and at this time of year the team here at All About You are busy applying the tried and tested fat loss programs, which have so far been working a treat.  With our home workout plans to help get our wonderful clients moving more at home we are seeing better results than ever before.  I know it sounds too good to be true but don’t just take my word for it.  If you've read this far then no doubt you are interested in finding out what our Summer Shake up plan can do for you so here’s what you’ll need to do to get involved.

Call up the studio on 020 8348 9706 and arrange your free consultation with a member of our team so we can tell you all about what we can do for you in time for Summer.

Health and happiness,

Mario. 

Recipe of the Week!

We have another delicious recipe to share with you from Tootoomoo who I'm sure all of you have tried by now. Their ingredients are organic, gluten, and MSG free... so you can pop down there while still keeping to your summer diet plans! If you haven't tried Tootoomoo yet hopefully this dish will persuade you to go soon!
Remember that Tootoomoo is also offering All About You clients a 20% discount on their take away menu and are also sponsoring our Client of The Month award here at the studio by giving our lucky winner a free meal for two to celebrate their achievements with us!

Chinese Braised Chicken 

All of us need comfort food once in a while. In China, the ultimate comfort food is the braised meat dish. Traditionally, pork belly or trotter is the preferred choice of meat as they are super tender and wholesome. However, as the trend shifts to a more health conscious diet and lifestyle, I have decided to use chicken thigh in this recipe. Chicken thigh is the most tender part of the bird and also has a higher fat content that flavours the dish.

Ingredients

• 4-6 pieces of chicken thigh
• 4 eggs
• 3 slices of ginger
• 4-5 birds eye chilli
• 4-5 cloves star anise
• 3 tablespoons dark soy
• 3 tablespoons low sodium soy
• 3 tablespoons Shao Xing wine
• 3-4 teaspoons honey or brown sugar
• 2 cans of lager

Instructions

  

• Heat a deep pan or pot on high and coat with light layer of oil
•    Put the chicken skin down first then turn once seared
• Pour in enough lager to cover the chicken and bring to boil
• In goes the ginger, chillies, soy, wine, star anise and sugar (if you prefer the dish to be spicy, crush the chillies beforehand)
•   Remain on high heat till the alcohol evaporates and the aroma starts to develop. Switch to low heat and simmer for an hour
•    Meanwhile, put the eggs in pan with cold water. Once the water starts boiling, starts a 7 minutes countdown to get the perfect hard boiled eggs
• Shell the eggs and cut into halves and add into the now super tender braised chicken pot and simmer for a further 30 min
• Served over boiled rice

Notes

•  Do not worry about overcooking this dish. Like most slow cooked dishes, it develops over time
•   It could be made vegetarian by using tofu, aubergine and daikon (radish) instead
•  Dark soy is used mainly for browning the dish, you could go with a lot less if desire
•  Honey/ sugar could always be added in the end to taste
•  In case of not being able to source star anise, cloves or fennel could also do the trick
• Lager gives a subtle caramelised flavour but feel free to go with good old H2O!

Farmer's Market

Well despite the overcast and slightly miserable weather, we are glad to say the Farmer's Market was a success! We hope all of you that joined us there enjoyed it and the tucked into some of the delicious food from the stalls, as well as grabbing some goodies to take home and enjoy afterwards! 

It was lovely seeing a lot of familiar faces, as well as family members who you brought along to help support the cause. After what seemed like a very long week, back to work after the holidays, it was a nice way to relax, enjoy some music and good, fresh food. Hopefully it inspired you to pick up some veg and meat to cook yourself a healthy meal for dinner!

We certainly enjoyed seeing you outside the gym environment and not telling you to do those dreaded squats. Here are some pictures before we got started to show you some of the stalls if you were unable to come, and also for those who were there to enjoy!

We'd also like to give a very big thank you to all the companies who got involved and provided us with stalls filled with a fantastic variety of foods, as well as the great music from Ian Anderson which kept us entertained throughout the afternoon. 

Keep checking the blog and our Facebook page as we will be posting regularly about upcoming events and also about 'The Club' which will be finished very soon! We look forward to seeing you all in the studio this week! 

All About You Food Revolution Farmer’s Market

On Sunday 27^th April, All About You, will be hosting a farmer’s market in association with Jamie Oliver’s food revolution to promote healthy eating across the country. Although it will appeal primarily to those who live locally, we believe that re-educating even a small number of people about nutrition and food can make a big difference.

But why are we doing this? 

Well since 1980, the number of overweight and obese adults has quadrupled to around one billion people in the developing world, and 64% of adults in the UK are now classed as being overweight. This rise in obesity has also trickled down to the children of our nation – resulting in 25% of boys and 33% of girls ages 2-19 being overweight or obese.

So why is our nation getting so fat? Well unfortunately, this is no mystery. Quite simply, many children do little exercise and eat a diet that’s packed with junk food. Numerous studies confirm what celebrity Chef Jamie Oliver discovered when he started looking more closely at school dinners – that children consume too much sugar, salt and saturates and eat only two portions of fruit and veg each day. There are too many opportunities and such easy access to quick, on the go, high energy junk foods which are usually cheaper than a healthier alternative. Our kids are following in the rather large footsteps of our increasingly obese adults, and today’s children will be the first generation to live shorter lives than their parents.

So how do we stop this? 

Unsurprisingly, most health experts agree one of the most important factors in the fight against childhood obesity is to encourage healthy eating habits from an early age. At All About You we have joined the Jamie Oliver food revolution programme, and as a part of our mission we are promoting healthy eating through our farmer’s market. We want to bring Jamie’s food revolution to the UK and change the way our nation eats and thinks about food. We can fight obesity with better food, and to get people cooking healthy meals again both at home and in schools. By eating home cooked meals, people will know what is going into their meals which will decrease the amount of fat and sugars they consume from fast food and takeaways.

Our famer’s market will include stalls run by local businesses as well as the more famously known Bedford Clanger’s Pasties shown on Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast. We will also be offering food demonstrations from the amazing Tootoomoo, who we work closely with to provide a healthy takeaway alternative.

We want to show people that eating healthily can be just as tasty and satisfying as junk food which carry a less certain nutritional value, as well as the health benefits a healthy diet will offer. At All About You we want to promote the benefits of an active lifestyle and good nutrition combined to put a stop to the growing waistbands of our nation, and to start making a difference to people’s lives one step at a time.

We hope to see you there!

Food Revolution Farmer’s Market

Sunday 27^th April 2014 12pm until 4pm

Contact All About You to find out more. www.aayou.co.uk

Healthy Easter Alternatives

Easter is a great excuse to 'take a break' from those new years resolution diets and indulge yourself in those yummy chocolate goodies! But why not have the best of both worlds and enjoy those Easter treats without the sluggish feeling come Tuesday morning when you're back in the gym! These healthier alternatives to those shop bought chocs and puds will satisfy your sweet tooth as well as helping you avoid the dreaded guilt after your bank holiday feast. 

Raw Cadbury Creme Eggs

Makes 3-4 Eggs

Gluten, egg, soy, refined sugar, and dairy free/Raw

Ingredients:

• 1/2 c. cashews {or macadamia nuts would work better for color!}
• 1/2 c. oats
• 2 dates, chopped
• 2 Tbs pure maple syrup or agave
• 1 Tb coconut oil, solid
• Raw chocolate {recipes below}
• 1/2 tsp turmeric {for yellow coloring}
• Chocolate egg mold {optional} OR toothpicks {for dipping}

Instructions:

1. Place cashews and oats in a blender and grind until smooth. Add coconut oil, syrup, and dates. Blend until smooth and a thick paste forms. If it is too sticky, always add a 1 tsp of oat “flour” until you are able to handle with your hands.
2. Seperate into 2 sections {you will want it to be a 3:1 split}. The smaller section will have the turmeric added to it for the “yolk.” Mix until completely colored.
3. Roll yolks into a ball and flatten out the whites.

4.   Place the yolk on top of the white and roll the white around the yolk. Shape into an egg shape {if you are using an egg mold, make sure that it is small enough to fit into the mold. Or if you are dipping them, shape them any size}:

For Raw Chocolate:

• 1/3 c. coconut oil, melted
• 1/2 c. raw cacao powder
• 2 Tbs maple syrup or agave

Instructions:

1. Blend in a blender until smooth.

Coat your mold with chocolate if using. Place egg into the mold, close with other side and freeze for 10 minutes. *Or* place a toothpick into the bottom and dip into bowl of chocolate.  Allow to set on wax paper.  Freeze 10 minutes.

Vanilla-Lemon Berry Parfaits

Makes 4 servings (serving size: 6 tablespoons yogurt with 1/2 cup fruit)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup plain low-fat yogurt
• 2 (3.5-ounce) containers fat-free vanilla pudding
• 2 tablespoons bottled lemon curd (such as Dickinson's)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons honey
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 3 cups mixed berries (such as blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries)
• Fresh mint leaves (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the yogurt, pudding, lemon curd, and vanilla extract; set aside.

2. In a medium mixing bowl, stir the honey, lemon zest, and lemon juice until combined. Add the mixed berries, and gently stir with a rubber spatula to coat them with the honey mixture.

3. Assemble the parfaits in four 8-ounce glasses. Using measuring spoons, scoop 3 tablespoons of the yogurt mixture into each glass. Top with 1/4 cup of the berries, then another 3 tablespoons yogurt, and another 1/4 cup berries. Garnish each yogurt parfait with fresh mint, if desired. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 hours.

Nutritional Information (per serving):

Calories: 176
Fat: 2g
Saturated fat: 1g Simply Strawberry Sorbet: Makes 1 quart

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 6 tablespoons water, preferably spring water
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 pints (about 1 1/2 pounds or 6 cups) fresh-picked strawberries, preferably organic, rinsed, patted dry, and hulled
• 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 large egg white, preferably farm-fresh (optional)

Instructions:

Make the simple syrup: In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, water, and salt. Cook, stirring, until the sugar and salt have dissolved, about 3 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes.

In a blender, purée the strawberries with the syrup and lemon juice until very smooth (you may need to divide this into several batches if your blender is not extra-large). If desired, strain through a fine-mesh sieve for a smoother texture. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, at least 4 hours or overnight.

Churn in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's directions. Add the egg white, if using, during the last 2 to 3 minutes of churning.

Variation: Strawberry-passion fruit sorbet:
Cut 7 passion fruits in half and scoop the pulp and seeds into a blender. Blend for 20 seconds, then pass through a fine-mesh strainer into a small bowl, pushing on the solids with back of a wooden spoon. Measure out 6 tablespoons of this purée and combine with the strawberries, syrup, and lemon juice in a blender as directed above.

5 Minute Carrot Cake For One

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup spelt flour
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/8 tsp baking soda
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/2 egg of choice 
• 1.5 tablespoons xylitol or brown sugar (coconut or white sugar will also work)
• 1 packet stevia (or 1 more tablespoon sugar or xylitol)
• 1/3 cup cooked carrots
• 1 tablespoon milk of choice
• 1 tablespoon oil or more milk of choice
• 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, mix dry ingredients (not carrots). If you have a blender, mix all wet ingredients and blend. Then mix dry into wet and stir. Pour into greased ramekins, a little dish, or a mug. 

2. If using the microwave, cook for 1 minute 20 seconds (or more or less, depending on the strength of your microwave). Let cool before trying to pop out. 

70 calories per serving.

Keep checking our blog over Easter to find out about what's going on at All About You in the next few months! Relax... unwind... and enjoy your bank holiday weekend! We hope to see you all fresh and raring to go next week down in the studio! 

Another Delicious Dish from Tootoomoo!

Recipe of the week

For all our fellow Tootoomoo lovers out there - yet another yummy recipe for you to enjoy at home!

This delicious Pan Asian restaurant based in Highgate and Crouch End have given us another recipe to share with you, using fresh and healthy ingredients - as well as being organic, gluten and MSG free. Prepared and delivered to your doorstep, remember that Tootoomoo is also offering All About You clients a 20% discount on their take away menu and are also sponsoring our Client of The Month award here at the studio by giving our lucky winner a free meal for two to celebrate their achievements with us! So get your gym shoes on and come down to All About You for a chance to win!

Salmon Tartare

This recipe is not only easy to follow, it is also packed with healthy proteins and omega 3 and super low in carbs!  You could also swap salmon for tuna or beef.

Ingredients

·         Sushi grade salmon/ tuna (allow 150-200g per person)

·         Avocado

·         Chives

·         Sesame oil

·         Mirin (Japanese rice wine)

·         Soy sauce (preferably Japanese soy)

·         Wasabi (kizami or fresh wasabi would be amazing, paste would be alright)

Instructions

·         Dice sushi into fine pieces (or chunkier if you would so prefer). A very easy way of doing so is by scraping the piece of fish with a teaspoon. Using this method also helps eliminate the sinew or lining as opposed to using a knife.

·         Mix soy and mirin into the diced salmon at a 1:1 ratio, add a couple drop of sesame oil, finely chopped chives and wasabi (please add wasabi to taste, fresh wasabi gives the extra crunchy texture)

·         Roughly dice the avocado, season with black pepper and set aside

·         Using a cake ring, lay avocado in the base and give it a gentle firm push to set the shape, then apply the same to salmon on top

·         Remove ring and voila!

·         Tobiko (fish roe) could also be added on top as a garnish

All About You Food Revolution Farmer's Market

•          43 million children under 5 are overweight or obese.
•         96% of kids in the UK don’t get their 5 a day.
•         20% of children in Australia think pasta comes from animals!

  

Our kids are growing up overweight and malnourished from a diet of processed foods, and today's children will be the first generation ever to live shorter lives than their parents. 

Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution is a national movement to change the way we eat. At All About You we have joined the Jamie Oliver food revolution programme, and as part of our mission we have established the All About You Farmer’s Market. We can fight obesity with better food, and to get people cooking healthy meals again both at home and in schools. Come along to the All About You Farmer’s Market on Sunday 27^th April 2014 to learn about, but more importantly to ENJOY, healthy and fresh food.

Our stalls will include:

• BathSoft Cheese
• WoodhouseFarm (pork, lamb beef) and Hog Roast
• Well Preserved Honey and Preserves
• Bedford Clangers Pasties and Confectionery (as seen on Jamie and Jimmy's Friday Night Feast)
• Nature's Farm Fruit and Veg
• WCDBespoke Furniture 
• Food Demonstrations from Tootoomoo
• Music by Ian Anderson

Have a look at the Food Revolution website to learn more about why we need to change the way we eat and how with some tasty recipes from Jamie Oliver himself!