A round-up of the week's other health news in brief
Public talk on gene therapy for cancer
The new cancer treatments offered by gene therapy will be discussed in a public talk on Thursday at 6.30pm in the Lifetime Lab, UCC. Five specialists will share their knowledge of new treatments they have pioneered for cancer patients. Admission is free. Details on tel: 021-4902371.
The mysterious power of memories
Finding the mysterious power in the traumas and joys of our childhood memories is one of the aims of a two-day seminar led by psychotherapist Brid Commins in Westport, Co Mayo, on September 19th and 20th. Commins will draw on the teachings of Arny Mindell, the founder of process oriented psychology. Mindell believes the life myth and pattern of each person’s life is embedded in early childhood memories, stories and dreams. Cost €175. To book, tel: 087-2566374.
Life after divorce and separation
Life after separation or divorce is the theme of a course of four evenings at the Marriage and Relationship Counselling Service offices, 38 Upper Fitzwilliam St, Dublin 2, starting next week.
The course, which will be facilitated by a relationship counsellor, is open to men and women who are going through or have gone through the end of a relationship.
The first evening is on Wednesday, September 9th at 7.30pm. Cost €50. Advance booking is essential on tel: 01-6443901 or e-mail Pauline.keane@mrcs.ie.
Living beauty in Dún Laoghaire
Holistic health practitioner Mary Berkery will give a talk on Living Beauty – Inner and Outer next Tuesday, September 8th at 7pm in Heaven and Earth Day Spa, 2nd Floor, 19 George’s St Lower, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin. Admission is €40 and includes an organic living juice cocktail and a natural Dr Hauschka daily body care travel kit. Advance booking on tel: 01-2843333 or visit www.heavenandearth.ie
Irish GPs fail in folic acid advice
Irish GPs are not advising women of childbearing age to take folic acid despite its link to preventing neural tube defects in babies, according to a recent survey. Two in three of those surveyed said folic acid had never been recommended to them, despite Department of Health recommendations of 400mg three months prior to conception and during the first trimester of pregnancy.