Hi, my name is Helen. I have been interested in complementary health for body and mind, in one form or another, for the last 10 years. I trained as a reflexologist, specialising in women's issues, then added Indian head massage, Hopi ear candles and courses in Nutrition and Counselling. After a few years of being a therapist, I fulfilled a long held dream of owning a therapy clinic. I managed to fulfil this dream in 2004 when my husband and I bought The Wellbeing Clinic in West Bridgford, Nottingham. We currently have over twenty therapists all dedicated and highly professional.
Over the years my own health problems have been greatly helped by complementary health. I suffer from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome a condition which can lead to all sorts of health problems with weight, insulin resistance, stress, fertility, low level anxiety, unwanted hair, irregular painful, heavy periods to name but a few issues. Although a lot of women suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome as many as 50% do not experience all the classic symptoms of weight gain and histrum, this can make diagnosis difficult and is often wrongly put down to PMS or women's problems. Many women and young girls are left feeling that they are being neurotic that they are not being taken seriously and that they have no were to turn and no support.
I can remember when I was diagnosed at the age of 14, the doctor saying to me that I had PCOS, she did not give me any explanation as to what this meant or what it would mean for my long term health. She then gave me a prescription for the contraceptive pill and told me not to worry about it until I wanted to get pregnant. I then spent the next 10 years on various contraceptive pills that caused me all sorts of physical and emotional difficulties I felt like I had no control over my own health or life. At this point I decided I no longer wanted to be at the mercy of the contraceptive pill and started to investigate what having Polycystic ovary syndrome meant, through my own research I discovered more about the condition and the ways that complementary health could put me back in control of my own life and health.
It is my overriding belief that nutritional therapy and reflexology helped me to conceive both my children naturally after years of failed attempts. (Patients who reguarly use Reflexology for Polysistic ovary syndrome report more regular periods, thicker hair on the scalp and a greater sense of wellbeing.) Polysistic ovary syndrome is not somthing that can be cured but with a bit of trial and error and the help of complementary therapy it can be managed. In the last few years I have discovered the importance of dealing with stress greatly helped with the use of cranial sacral therapy, yoga and meditation.
Complementary therapy is something that I am hugely passionate about for myself and my family as the first port of call when we are ill or lacking vitality. This is not to say that I won't use more conventional medicine, but I think the two things work best side by side rather than as separate entities.