1 in four of us will experience a mental health issue each year. There are many ways to improve our mental health, including getting professional help, talking about it, and taking time for self-care. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Talk About It – It could be to your friend, a family member, your GP or a professional counsellor. Talking is the first step, helping you to acknowledge what’s going on.
• Eat Well – Eating good food gives us the brain power we need to deal with whatever is going on. Eat too little and you’ll be physical and mentally exhausted. Eat the wrong foods (too much sugar, caffeine, alcohol) and you’ll have even more ups and downs.
• Sleep – Lack of sleep makes us irritable, emotional and can lead to depression. Of course, sleep issues often accompany mental health issues. But if you’re able to, try to get at least 7 hours of sleep a night. If not, try meditation such as yoga nidra (You Tube has videos).
• Exercise – Regular exercise improves mood, helps us to sleep and wards off chronic illness. A brilliant tool for stress management, just choose activities which you enjoy and aim for at least 3 sessions a week. Yoga, walking and biking are good options.
• Acupuncture – Regular treatments can be a great way to address mental health and the other symptoms that arise, such as sleep problems and tension headaches. A course of treatment is recommended initially, moving to regular maintenance treatments to keep on top of life’s stresses and strains. Concessions available – please enquire.

Need advice? Want to book a treatment?
Contact Sunny on 07582 684 756 or hello@sunnyjaspal.com

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory, premenstrual tension (PMT) also known as premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in the time leading up to your menstrual cycle may be caused by stagnation of Qi. Here are some tips to move your Qi and prevent mood swings, irritability, breast distension and bloating:

• Exercise: anything you enjoy – yoga, Pilates, qi gong, swimming, running – to move your Qi and clear stagnation.

• A balanced diet: avoid caffeine, alcohol and sugary foods which may cause peaks and troughs, exacerbating mood swings and irritability. Limit salt intake to prevent bloating. Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and ‘pungent’ foods such as basil, coriander and peppermint. Ensure portion sizes are not too big and chew your food thoroughly!

• Complementary therapies such as massage, reflexology or acupuncture: If you feel like the tips above are not working you may need a helping hand. Massage works in a similar way to exercise, moving Qi when it may be stuck. Tell your practitioner if you have any pain. Abdominal massage may be particularly beneficial at this time. Reflexology and acupuncture work on the meridians of the body to move Qi.
• Remember that PMT is not always caused by Qi stagnation. If you feel like the above tips are not helpful or make you feel worse, seek the advice of a TCM practitioner.

Want to find out more? Contact Sunny. Clinics in St Neots and Letchworth.

Natural ways to cope with the winter blues

As Autumn closes in and grey skies prevail, it seems appropriate to focus on light and how this affects our mood and health. We’ve all heard of the term ‘the winter blues’ but how many of us understand what this means?

There are many factors contributing to what is termed ‘Seasonal Affective Disorder’ by the medical community, a condition whereby an individual experiences depression in the colder winter months of the year.

Firstly, lack of bright light means that the production of melatonin and serotonin are limited, these are produced when light hits the retinas in our eyes, which then sends a signal to the brain. Serotonin is our feel good chemical and melatonin regulates our sleep rhythms. Therefore a lack of these chemicals will lead to low mood and problems with wakefulness.

Vitamin D deficiency can also lead to problems during the colder months, with vitamin D being absent through the sun’s ray between the months of October to March, when they are not of the necessary wavelength to produce Vitamin D upon contact with our skin.  An overwhelming 25% of the population are thought to be Vitamin D deficient, and recent studies are showing just how many systems in our body this can affect.

All of this poor lighting can leave you feeling depressed, stressed, anxious, lacking in energy and generally not your usual self. So what can you do to beat the blues? Below is list of suggestions that may help you feel brighter over this cold season…

• Light therapy – Using a light box lamp is a good way to ensure you’re receiving enough light for melatonin and serotonin production. They come in many shapes and sizes, and you’ll need to ensure you find one from a reputable seller.  Lumie light boxes are certified by the Medical Devices Directive and can be found at www.lumie.com. Watch out for the cheaper imitations which aren’t bright enough to produce the desired effect.
• Vitamin D supplementation – During the months of October to March when we don’t receive Vitamin D from the sun it’s a good idea to supplement, especially if you are deficient. Visit your GP to have your Vitamin D levels checked and think about supplementation
• Acupuncture can be helpful for managing conditions such as depression and stress. Many of clients come for treatment due to these very problems and find acupuncture helps them to cope and feel better. Regular treatment is recommended to get you back on track.

Want to find out more? Contact Sunny. Clinics in St Neots and Letchworth.