Another celebrity hits the headlines after it's revealed that they have used hypnosis and hypnotherapy for weight loss.

This week it is Nigella Lawson who has been showing off her curves. Even as I write that I realise that I am writing like a tabloid hack, but it is true to say that Nigella is as well known for her figure as she is for her cooking. It is being reported that she has lost a total of two stone and this means that her dress size has gone from a size 16 to a size twelve. Of course alongside this she will be feeling so much more full of energy and vigour as well as all the vitality and positive feelings that this brings.

Nigella Lawson is someone who has often gone on record to say that she doesnt really mind how much she weighs, but like many people who say this they really would like to do something about it.

After visiting a Harley Street Hypnotherapist she has been able to control her portion sizes and make the changes that she really desires. Many people are surprised when they visit me that I don't advocate going on a diet to lose the weight. When you try and give up chocolate or whatever your vice is you just want it more. In fact I actually have a supply of chocolate in my desk drawer and I have been known to not only give it to clients but even have sweets handed out during talks that I give on "No more Diets" !

One of the great things about Nigella is that it is clear that she loves her food and her treats and by using hypnosis and hypnotherapy to get a little more control of her weight she can show everyone that you do not have to give up the foods that you love.

Well done to her and if you would like to find out more about hypnosis for weight loss just click here... Hypnosis to lose weight

If you would like a FREE consultation please do get in touch EMAIL Mark Powlett  or call   07980 233160

I work alongside many practitioners to help create programmes that will benefit clients in many different ways. I co-created a pain relief and relaxation system with Joanne Marie from Breathe Holistic Therapy in Kidderminster, using my voice and her skills with reflexology..so when I saw this article I was very interested to read more...

article from the press association...

Use reflexology to complement drugs in pain treatment, survey findings suggest

Ben Mitchell

Tuesday, 9 April 2013

Reflexology may be as effective as painkillers, according to a new scientific survey.

Researchers at the University of Portsmouth have found that people felt about 40 per cent less pain, and were able to stand pain for about 45 per cent longer, when they used reflexology as a method of pain relief.

Dr Carol Samuel, who is a trained reflexologist and who carried out the experimental procedures as part of her PhD studies, said it was the first time this therapy had been scientifically tested as a treatment for acute pain.

She said the results suggested that reflexology could be used to complement conventional drug therapy in the treatment of conditions associated with pain such as osteoarthritis, backache and cancers.

Participants attended two sessions, in which they were asked to submerge their hand in ice water.

In one of the sessions they were given reflexology before they submerged their hand, and in the other session they believed they were receiving pain relief from a Tens machine, which was not actually switched on.

The researchers found that when the participants received reflexology prior to the session they were able to keep their hand in the ice water for longer before they felt pain, and that they could also tolerate the pain for a longer period of time.

Dr Samuel said: "As we predicted, reflexology decreased pain sensations.

"It is likely that reflexology works in a similar manner to acupuncture by causing the brain to release chemicals that lessen pain signals."

Dr Ivor Ebenezer, co-author of the study, said: "We are pleased with these results. Although this is a small study, we hope it will be the basis for future research into the use of reflexology."

Reflexology is a complementary medical approach, which works alongside orthodox medicine, in which pressure may be applied to any body area but is commonly used on either the feet or hands.

In this study reflexology was applied to the feet.

Dr Ebenezer, from the Department of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, and Dr Samuel used a small study of 15 people to determine whether reflexology would be more effective than no pain relief at all.

Dr Ebenezer said: "Complementary and alternative therapies come in for a lot of criticism, and many have never been properly tested scientifically.

"One of the common criticisms by the scientific community is that these therapies are often not tested under properly controlled conditions.

"When a new drug is tested its effects are compared with a sugar pill.

"If the drug produces a similar response to the sugar pill, then it is likely that the drug's effect on the medical condition is due to a placebo effect.

"In order to avoid such criticism in this study, we compared the effects of reflexology to a sham Tens control that the participants believed produced pain relief.

"This is the equivalent of a sugar pill in drug trials."

Dr Samuel added: "This is an early study, and more work will need to be done to find out about the way reflexology works.

"However, it looks like it may be used to complement conventional drug therapy in the treatment of conditions that are associated with pain, such as osteoarthritis, backache and cancers."

The study has been published in the Journal of Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice.

A spokeswoman for medical research charity Arthritis Research UK responded to the study with caution.

She said: "Fifteen people is a very small number of people on which to base a claim that reflexology reduces pain, and the study needs to be replicated in considerably larger numbers before it can be substantiated."

PA

If you would like to find out more about Reflexology you can go to the Breathe website here... www.breathetherapy.co.uk