Baby Reflex is specially adapted Reflexology for babies and toddlers ranging in age from one month to 3 years old.  The techniques originally were developed for bonding and over the years have helped ease, relieve and eliminate many discomforts encountered by babies.  It all began with Jenny Lee, MCSP, MAR, a Chartered Physiotherapist, Reflexologist and Teacher.

It developed from extensive research Jenny had been involved with over a 15 year period looking at children with asthma.  Jenny working with the children’s GPs saw the benefits of Reflexology on childhood asthma, sleep patterns, quality of life and how children enjoyed the actual treatment of Reflexology.

Thus ‘Baby Reflex’ was born in 2005.

 Babies naturally love to be touched and this wonderful treatment may help parents bond with their babies, whilst given them the benefit of this is amazing complementary therapy.

Baby Reflex helps to calm baby and to assist him or her develop their own natural rhythm, in turn helping to establish good routines, in particular sleep patterns.

It has been shown to be effective with helping to soothe the discomfort experienced with digestive problems, teething and breathing problems.

The wonderful thing about Baby Reflex is that parents are shown how to use the techniques on their own children.  It empowers parents to perform Baby Reflex anywhere and at anytime that suits them!

The techniques are simple to learn and easy to adapt for individual needs. It is a natural therapy with soothing and effective remedies for parents.

Baby Reflex is taught over 2/3 sessions lasting approximately one hour.

By demonstrating the techniques in bite sized chunks, it allows parents to absorb the information in easily remembered themed sessions.  Parents know their children much better than I do and will quickly see the benefits gained.

The Toddler Reflex routines are taught using well known nursery rhymes, therefore gaining the toddlers attention and making it fun!

Baby Reflex is good for

• Bonding
• Boosting the Immune System
• Calming hyper baby/toddler after emotional upset
• Coughs/Colds/Sinus problems/Throat
• Colic
• Reflux/ Wind/Constipation
• Sleeping
• Teething

Baby Reflex can be taught 121 or in small group settings at my therapy room or at your home alone or with other mums in Dromore, Banbridge or Lisburn.

For further information or to arrange a booking contact me either by telephone, email or through the contact page.

‘There is no friendship, no love, like that of a mother for her child’. ~ HenryW Beecher

2. It is now recommended that we should all consume at least two portions of fish each week, one of which should be oily fish, but contamination from environmental toxins such as PCB’s and heavy metals such as mercury, mean that fish isn’t always the ‘healthy’ option.  Choosing organic and wild varieties of fish over farmed alternatives is an excellent way to reduce your intake of these harmful toxins.  To boost your intake of the essential omega 3 fatty acids found in oily fish, choose a natural, high quality fish oil that has been thoroughly tested for the presence of harmful environmental toxins. The further down the food chain (the smaller) the fish, the less pollutants will be in their tissues, eg., sardines & pilchards. Essential fatty acids are best taken as a balance of 3, 6 and 9 eg., Udo’s Choice or unshelled hemp seeds.

3. Choose glass food and drink storage containers over plastic ones.  Importantly do not heat food in plastic containers as this is when phtalates are most likely to leach into the food.  Avoid cling film wherever possible.  Its through the use of plastics and films that we are promoting and consuming xenoestrogens (means foreign oestrogens) these mimic oestrogens in the body  They cause disruption to hormone levels in men and women.  PMS, heavy periods, fertility problems and the development of man boobs may all be linked to imbalances in oestrogen, see our article on Natural Progesterone.  Not all plastics are equally bad.  Soft plastics such as cling films are worst.  Harder plastics such as Tupperware don’t seem to be such a problem. 

Ways to reduce your exposure:
Try to avoid buying foods wrapped in plastic packaging if possible.  Oily or acidic foods appear to absorb more from the plastic wrapper than other foods.
Remove food from wrapper as soon as possible after purchase.
Use stainless steel flasks for drinks rather than using plastic bottles.

4. Drink pure filtered water – install a water filter system onto your kitchen tap for all the water you use for drinking and cooking with.

5. Use environmentally friendly, household cleaning products.  Neways have an excellent household cleaning range. 

None of these products have been tested on animals and all are environmentally conscious. 

6. Consider carefully your position on vaccination; it is a complex area but it is important to be aware of both the arguments for and against to be able to make an informed decision.  See the discussion at www.informedparent.co.uk.

7. Avoid aerosol cans that contain ozone, especially deodorants.  There are now plenty of ozone-free alternatives to choose from again Neways can provide good protective products such as Subdue.  This contains herbal extracts – lime, peppermint and lichen which will keep you fresh all day without blocking sweat ducts and Aloe vera which helps support moisture levels.  It is suitable for men and women.

8. Be committed to buying ‘natural’ toiletry products wherever possible.  You can now find natural toothpastes, deodorants, shampoos, conditioners, shower gels, soaps, cosmetics, body creams etc. etc.  See the Neways range of products or contact us for a catalogue.  These products have been produced using cutting edge technology with a commitment to research and are person and environmentally friendly.  Remember it is the products that you use most frequently that could do you the most harm.

9. If you are embarking on some household decorating tasks this Autumn, choose paints that are based on natural products. Cheshire-based company Earthborn Paints do an excellent range.
 
10. Check your house and work environment for mould or damp conditions and take the necessary steps to eradicate all traces.

HISTORY

1. Have you taken tetracycline or other antibiotics for one month or longer?

2. Have you, at any time in your life, taken other ‘broad spectrum’ antibiotics for respiratory, urinary or other infections (for two months or longer, or in shorter courses for four or more times in a one year period?)

3. Have you, at any time in your life, been bothered by persistent prostatitis, vaginitis or other problems affecting your reproductive organs?

4. Have you taken birth control pills for more than two years?

5. Have you taken cortisone type drugs for more than a month?

6. Does exposure to perfumes, insecticides, cigarette smoke and other chemicals provoke noticeable symptoms?

7. Are your symptoms worse on damp, muggy days or in mouldy places?

8. Do you suffer with athlete’s foot, ringworm, ‘jock itch’ or other chronic fungal infections of the skin or nails?

9. Do you crave sugar, bread or alcoholic beverages?

Score 2 points for each ‘yes’ answer.

SYMPTOMS

1. Do you often experience fatigue or lethargy?

2. Do you suffer from depression?

3. Do you have poor memory?

4. Do you ever experience feeling ‘spacey’ or ‘unreal’?

5. Do you experience numbness, burning or tingling?

6. Do you ever get headaches or migraines?

7.  Do you suffer from muscle aches or weakness?

8. Do you have pain and/or swelling in joints?

9. Do you suffer from abdominal pain?

10. Do you get constipation and/or diarrhoea?

11. Do you suffer from bloating. belching or gas?

12. Do you have troublesome vagninal itching, burning or discharge?

13. Do you suffer from prostatitis, or impotence?

14. Do you suffer from endometriosis or infertility?

15. Do you suffer with menstrual irregularities?

16. Do you ever have attacks of anxiety or crying?

17. Do you suffer from cold hands or feet and/or chilliness?

18. Do you get shakey or irritable when hungry?

Score ONE point for each ‘yes’ answer.

If your total score is above 24 there is a strong likelihood that you have Candidiasis.
If you score above 18 there is a possibility that you have it.
This questionnaire published in Dr Wm Crook’s book ‘The yeast connection’

The most reliable test is the Candida Antibody Test which we can perform for you.  Please contact us for details.

Ways to support the liver:

Eat green vegetables and salad leaves daily.  Other liver supporting foods include artichokes, chicory, radishes, dandelion coffee and beetroot.

Ways to stimulate bile flow – use Extra Virgin Olive oil in salad dressings, combine it with apple cider vinegar or lemon juice.

By drinking vegetable juices containing carrots, beetroot, celery, ginger, radishes, fennel or cabbage will help the liver to detoxify.

Add Turmeric to your food – stews, curry, soups or casseroles will help support the liver to work. 

Try to eat raw foods daily – fruit and vegetables.  These are both nourishing and cleansing. Fruit juices are also good, but beware of some brands. We were excited to see Acai and Goji juice tonight in Sainsbury’s for a reasonable price, until we noticed it was made from concentrate. If a juice is made from concentrate, its vitamin and mineral content will have been removed. Always buy juice PRESSED from the fruit, like the ‘Innocent’ brand. A further note about fruit- do not mix citrus fruits with non citrus at the same time- they do not mix well.

Drink lots of cleansing fluids – pure water, herbal teas throughout the day.

Take flaxseed daily approx 1-2tbsp of ground seeds soaked in water daily to aid bowel cleansing.  Good bowel function aids the liver to detoxify effectively.

Take Milk Thistle daily to support the liver in its work.

Avoid consuming sugar, caffeine, alcohol, salt, processed foods and additives.  These all add to the toxic load.

Remember to read the labels on all food packaging.

If you are beginning your body’s spring cleanse you may experience symptoms of fatigue, aches and pains or headaches or a flaring up of old symptoms.  This may well be an indication that the cleansing process has started.  To encourage the process drink more water and vegetable juices, have plenty of warm relaxing baths and take plenty of rest.

Please read our pages on TASTY DETOX FOODS and RAINBOW FOODS.