Exciting News! Our New Sister Clinic In Chelmsford Is Opening Soon

opens julyWe are very excited to announce that we are opening a sister clinic in Chelmsford.

Work is progressing well on the clinic and all hands are on deck for the opening at the beginning of July.

Melanie will be working at the Chelmsford clinic where she will be providing chiropractic, medical herbalism, functional medicine and phlebotomy services. In addition, there will be a massage therapist offering massage.

But don’t worry if you are in Southend or the surrounding areas, Arif and Paz will still be focussed on taking care of you guys:)

If you know anyone in Chelmsford, or around that area, please let them know that Cliffs will be there to help them.

It’s No Longer Freezing But You May Be Sneezing!

hayfeverIf you find the spring and summer months are more about “ah-ah-achoo-ing” than feeling in the full bloom of health then you could be one of the 25% of Brits suffering from hay fever. You may be familiar with the scene; everyone else seems to be blissfully lapping up the sunshine while you battle with sneezing fits, sore and runny eyes and sinuses that feel like they’ve been stuffed with treacle.

Hay fever is triggered by the amount of pollen in the air and symptoms can begin as early as February and last as late as September. In hay fever sufferers, tiny grains of pollen cause an allergic reaction. This results in the body’s immune system going into ‘attack mode’ – just like it would do if it was invaded by a virus or bacteria. In response, the body releases histamine which causes inflammation in the eyes, airways and sinuses.

Interestingly, hay fever was unheard of just 200 years ago which suggests that our over-sanitised modern world is hindering the development of our immune systems in infancy. Increased air pollution is another possible explanation for the ever growing instances of the illness.

So apart from hibernating until October, what measures can you take to stop hay fever from ruining your spring and summer?hayfever cartoon

Herbal remedies are extremely effective as they improve your immune system and work as antihistamines and have anti-inflammatory properties. Bear in mind that herbal remedies work best when taken at least a month before the pollen season starts – so that’s NOW.

Prevention is always better than cure, as they say.

Here are our suggested herbal remedies that should help:

1: Drink Chamomile Tea.
You can either drink chamomile tea or use it as a face splash (when cooled!). Placing a few drops of chamomile essential oil on a tissue to inhale can also be extremely soothing.

2: Drink Ginger Tea and Local Honey
Mixing fresh slices of ginger with hot water and a teaspoon of local honey will help to block histamine production and build your immune system.

3: Drink Green Tea.
Drinking green tea will hinder your body’s production of histamine and help to strengthen your immune system.

4: Try Steaming
Steaming is a simple and soothing way to break up congestion in your sinuses. Add a few drops of eucalyptus to hot water and gently inhale the steam.

5: Watch Your Diet
Try to cut down on the amount of dairy foods you consume and add a daily supplement of Vitamin C to your diet. Taking Omega 3 fatty acids may also help to decrease the amount of inflammatory chemicals in your body.

Nothing replaces an individual prescription designed for you so why not visit Melanie. As an experienced Medical Herbalist she will be able to assess your need and help you.

Don’t suffer in silence this pollen season!