CHINESE herbal medicine is a natural way to ease and manage the problems of menopause, according to Lei Zhou An, a London based herbalist and acupuncturist, who visited Dublin last week.
Introducing a Chinese herbal supplement called Equillence, she said it allows women to assume greater responsibility for their own health. Chinese philosophy regarding the "change of life" is not to interfere or delay its onset but simply to provide practical relief during this normal physiological process.
The supplement is made of a blend of royal jelly and eight traditional Chinese herbal extracts and is being marketed by Regina Health. It can be taken in conjunction with HRT and ideally, before, during and after menopause, as part of a balanced and healthy lifestyle.
THE fifth National Glaucoma Awareness Campaign begins today and runs until Friday, July 26th. Glaucoma is an eye disorder which can cause blindness if it is not treated. It is not contagious but it may be inherited.
The message "Look out for the thief of sight" is to emphasise the fact that many people suffering from glaucoma may not realise that anything is wrong until after their sight has been damaged. Glaucoma affects one person in every 20 over the age of 45 and one person in 10 over the age of 80. Organised by the Irish Fight for Sight Campaign, Glaucoma Awareness is based on a travelling information centre visiting major cities and towns throughout the country.
Members of the public can get a free check that can indicate a susceptibility to this condition at the following venues today in Quay Street car park, Donegal tomorrow in the car park beside Abbey Centre, Ballyshannon, Wednesday at Wine Street car park, Sligo town Thursday in Pearse Street, Ballina Friday in Market Square car park, Castlebar Monday 15th in Ballymahon Street, Longford Tuesday 16th in Dominick Street Square, Mullingar Wednesday 17th at O'Connor Square, Tullamore Thursday 18th in Castle Street, Roscrea Friday 19th at Lyster car park, Portlaoise Monday 22nd at Haddens car park, Carlow town Tuesday 23rd in the car park on The Parade, Kilkenny city Wednesday 24th in The Square, Enniscorthy Thursday 25th in the L & N car park, Wexford town Friday 26th in Barronstrand Street, Waterford city.
THE Camus Project, a programme for those who have experienced their first hospitalisation for a mental health breakdown, is inviting people to attend a four month programme at the Taney Centre, Dundrum, Dublin. According to the Health Research Board approximately 27,000 people are admitted to psychiatric hospitals each year, 7,000 are first time admissions and 20,000 are repeat admissions.
This "revolving door syndrome" is acknowledged as one of the highest challenges facing those involved in the treatment and care of people with mental health difficulties. The aim of this early intervention programme is to tackle this syndrome by providing management skills, therapeutic health education and vocational exploration in a flexible, community based setting. Participants will be helped to develop life management skills in the areas of basic catering, managing personal and household finances, and community and leisure skills. Career guidance, vocational assessment and job sampling will be undertaken to assist in the return to the workforce. Also people will be helped gain insights into what happened to them and to put it in a new perspective. Anyone interested in joining the next programme in September should contact Deirdre De Burca in Rehab on (01) 2962770.
THE Irish Red Cross Society hosts a lecture on "The Challenge of Implementing International Humanitarian Law" by Cornelio Somaruga, presiclent of the International Committee of the Red Cross. All are welcome at 1 pm. in the Swift A Lecture Theatre, Arts Building, Trinity College, Dublin.
THE Hysterectomy Support Group at the Derry Well Woman Centre, 17 Queen Street, will meet tonight at 8 p.m. The group is for women who have had or will be having a hysterectomy and who would welcome both the support of other women in a similar situation and straight forward information and advice. Tel (0801504) 360777.