CLINIC NEWS
We welcomed Delme Bennett MSMA to our team on May 30th.
Delme is a sports massage therapist .
Benefits of Sports Massage:
- Improve circulation & lymphatic flow
- Sedate or stimulate nerve endings
- Increase or decrease muscle length
- Assist in mental preparation for sporting participation
- Assist in the removal of metabolic waste
- Increase or decrease muscle tone
- Remodel scar tissue when required
Delme is available for treatment on a Wednesday evening between 5 and 9pm. Ask our receptionist for an appointment.
We will also be welcoming Helen Medlicott B.Sc(Hons)Ost.Med. to our clinic at the end of July. Helen is an osteopath who qualified from the British College of Osteopathic Medicine in London in 2004. She is also qualified in dry needling which is a technique using acupuncture needles to work on sore tendons eg tennis elbow and pirifomis syndrome. Helen is a local girl who has been working away in Scotland since qualifying.
What are Cox-2 inhibitors :
Cox-2 inhibitors are newly developed drugs for inflammation that selectively block the COX-2 enzyme. Blocking this enzyme impedes the production of the chemical messengers (prostaglandins) that cause the pain and swelling of arthritis inflammation. Cox-2 inhibitors are a new class of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Because they selectively block the COX-2 enzyme and not the COX-1 enzyme, these drugs are uniquely different from traditional NSAIDs.
What is the basic difference between traditional NSAIDs and the newly designed COX-2 inhibitors?
Cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) is the enzyme which is normally present in a variety of areas of the body, including sites of inflammation and the stomach. The COX-1 enzyme of the stomach produces certain chemical messengers (called prostaglandins) that ensure the natural mucus lining which protects the inner stomach. Common anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin block the function of the COX-1 enzyme along with another enzyme, COX-2 (see below). When the COX-1 enzyme is blocked, inflammation is reduced, but the protective mucus lining of the stomach is also reduced, which can cause stomach upset, ulceration, and bleeding from the stomach and intestines. Another enzyme, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), also produces these chemical messenger molecules, but the COX-2 enzyme is located specifically in areas of the body that are responsible for inflammation and not in the stomach. When the COX-2 enzyme is blocked, inflammation is reduced.
Since the COX-2 enzyme does not play a role in the normal function of the stomach or intestinal tract, medications which selectively block COX-2 do not present the same risk of injuring the stomach or intestines. Newly developed drugs that selectively block the COX-2 enzyme are called COX-2 inhibitors. Blocking this enzyme impedes the production of the prostaglandins that cause the pain and swelling of arthritis inflammation. The common anti-inflammatory drugs (like aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen) all act by blocking the action of both the COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes. The COX-2 inhibitors represent a new class of drugs that do not affect COX-1, but selectively block only COX-2. This selective action provides the benefits of reducing inflammation without irritating the stomach. These drugs pose an advantage in comparison to previous anti-inflammatory drugs because their mechanism of action carries nowhere near the risk of stomach ulceration and bleeding.
The COX-2 inhibitor is now on the market in the form of celecoxib (Celebrex). It is widely expected that COX-2 inhibitors will be of great value to people with arthritis and a variety of pain conditions.
9 Gelliwastad Road, Pontypridd
01443 485302
www.pontypriddosteopaths.co.uk
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Glucosamine and Chondroitin
- It is claimed that glucosamine and chondroitin REVERSE or HALT the progression of osteo-athritis. Their advantages are:-
- No appreciable toxicity
- Good oral bio availability
- Glucosamine is anabolic i.e. it causes the production of body protein which is useful in convalescence.
Chondroitin inhibits degradation
Glucosamine
Glucosamine is required by the body to manufacture glycoaminoglycans which are needed in the development of cartilage, bone, tendons, ligaments, nails, hair and skin.
Chondroitin
A naturally occurring compound found in the joints. It is thought that it blocks the enzymes responsible for the destruction of cartilage tissue and promotes water retention in the cartilage and thus increases the elasticity of the cartilage, therefore useful in OA of the knees.
Current Thoughts
- Justifiable claims at doses 1 to 1.5g daily.
- Relieves pain and improves function.
- Unsubstantiated claims to delay destruction of structural integrity.
- Must exercise caution in diabetics, especially Type 1.
- Side effects are constipation and nausea.
Solving Depression
(Extract form the NEW Optimum Nutrition for the Mind by Patrick Holford)
In Britain, 1 in 20, or around 3 million people, are diagnosed with depression. In fact, an estimated one in three doctor consultations involve patients with mental health issues, such as depression.
The classic symptoms include:
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt; Poor concentration; Loss of energy and fatigue; Thoughts of suicide or preoccupation with death; Loss or increase of appetite and weight; A disturbed sleep pattern; Slowing down (both physically and mentally);Agitation (restlessness or anxiety).
There is no single cure. However, low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin are strongly associated with states of depression, while low levels of dopamine, adrenalin or noradrenalin are associated with lack of motivation. Most prescription drugs have undesirable side-effects. Instead it is recommend 100mg up to 300mg of the amino acid 5-HTP, twice a day to boost your serotonin. Supplementing tyrosine at 500mg to 1,000mg twice a day helps boost motivation and may be helpful in those who feel a distinct lack of drive.
The Happiness Herb
St.John’s Wort works just as well as tricyclic antidepressants, but has fewer side-effects. In a recent study in the British Medical Journal, 324 patients were randomly assigned to treatment with either St. John’s Work or imipramine. Both were equally effective. However, St. John’s Wort was better tolerated. A 300mg dose of St. John’s Wort (containing 0.3% hypericin) two or three time s a day helps most people with mild depression.
Chromium and `Atypical’ Depression
Thanks to Professor Malcolm McLeod from the University of North Carolina, chromium has proven to be not just a vital nutrient for blood sugar stability, but highly effective for those with `atypical’ depression – that is people who are gaining weight, feel tired all the time, crave carbohydrates and could sleep forever, unlike the classic `depressive’ who is suffering from weight loss and insomnia. McLeod’s discovery happened by chance when one of his patients, who had been severely depressed for several years, recovered completely after taking a nutritional supplement. More and more patients with atypical depression often get instant relief by taking 400 to 600mcg of chromium a day.
Magnesium
Another mineral that might help boost mood is magnesium. A study by George and Karen Eby in the US, of patients with major depression, found that they recovered in less that a week, by taking 125 to 300mg of magnesium with each meal and at bedtime. The participants related conditions, including headache, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, short-term memory loss and IQ loss improved too. Green, leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds are rich in magnesium. However, if you are depressed, you may want to take an additional 100mg of magnesium in the morning and at night for a few weeks and see if that helps.
Bump Up Your Bs
Vitamins B2, B6, B12 and folic acid are vital for methylation,the process that keeps the brain’s chemistry in balance; faulty methylation, indicated by high homocysteine, is strongly associated with depression. Low levels of folic acid, the B vitamin, have consistently been reported in depessed people, as has high homocyteine.
The advice is not to supplement B vitamins singly, but to take a combination of B2, B6, B12, folic acid and TMG, all of which are required for proper methylation. These are often available in homocysteine-lowering formulas.
The Right Fats to Keep You Happy
What is encouraging is that some studies show omega-3 supplementation can reverse major depression. Your job is simply to make sure that your brain gets enough of all the right pieces of the equation.
These are:
- Essential fats, especially omega-3 fats
- B vitamins
- Amino acids such as 5-HTP, tyrosine and SAMe or TMG