Mundane superfoods – part 2

Given the high prevalence of infertility as well as vitamin D insufficiency in otherwise healthy young women and men and the possible link between vitamin D and human reproduction, is being researched by scientists. Vitamin D has been well-known for its function in maintaining calcium and phosphorus homeostasis and promoting strong bones and teeth. There is some evidence that in addition to sex steroid hormones, the classic regulators of human reproduction, vitamin D also modulates reproductive processes in women and men.  It is well known that Vitamin D peaks in the summer months and drops in the winter months in the Uk and other northern countries that have fewer hours of day light during the winter months.  In these northern countries the conception rate is decreased during the dark winter months; it peaks during the summer leading to a maximum birth rate in the spring. In women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels are associated with obesity, metabolic, and endocrine disturbances.   Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common cause of infertility.  Researchers concluded that vitamin D supplementation might improve menstrual frequency and metabolic disturbances in those women. The same researchers suggested vitamin D might influence steroidogenesis of sex hormones (estradiol and progesterone) in healthy women and high 25(OH)D levels might be associated with endometriosis. In men, vitamin D is positively associated with semen quality and androgen status. Moreover, vitamin D supplementation might increase testosterone levels. It should be noted that Vitamin D supplementation can't treat infertility alone, but is a safe and cheap treatment, which has been shown to boost fertility in men and women. In addition there is limited evidence that vitamin D exerts some effects on the outcome of IVF treatment. Finally vitamin D deficiency among pregnant women has been associated with elevated risk for other pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and bacterial vaginosis. References Rojansky N,Brzezinski A & Schenker JG. Seasonality in human reproduction: an update.Human Reproduction 1992 7 735–745. E Lerchbaum & B Obermayer-Pietshc, Mechanisms in Enocrinology: Vitamin D and Fertility: A systematic review. Eur J Endocrinol May 1, 2012 166765-778

Bodnar LM, Catov JM, Simhan HN, Holick MF, Powers RW & Roberts JM Maternal vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of preeclampsia. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism2007 92 3517–3522.

First let me reassure you if you haven't been to us before that we don't do any unnecessary nakedness.  If you want you can wear gym shorts but it is no necessary. On your first visit you will be asked to fill out a consultation form and we will discuss why you booked.  At the start of subsequent treatments we may ask you about your response to our last treatment or if there has been a long gap, your reason for booking.  If there has been a significant gap we may ask you to fill out a consultation form again, especially if it has been archived. While we are all able to use oils, we tend to use a sports wax as it doesn't stain your clothes and it is odorless and one brand we use is nut free too. During the massage we will use fingertips, knuckles, hands, elbows, and forearms to treat you.  You may be asked to breathe deeply as we works on tense areas.  Most of our clients want deep pressure.  However there are times when we need to use a lighter sustained pressure on some restrictions to achieve a myofascial release. We may get you to move position on the massage bed to give us better access to certain muscles or to treat the opposing muscle.  For example, if we have worked on your upper back we may need to open up your chest, particularly your pec muscles. We may stretch your muscles ourselves or ask you to move your body in a certain way to stretch it or to see how it reacts to the movement.      

Migraines affect twice as many women as men and are experienced by one in seven people in the UK.  (Migrane Action, 2018). Reflexology could be a beneficial treatment for people who are experiencing migraines a recent study suggest. A randomised control trial was conducted with 75 male subjects who all had a nitrogylcerine induced migraine-type headache.  The subjectes were divided into three groups.  The first group received 20 mins refleoxlogy while the second group received an ineffective foot massage (a placebo) and the third group no intervention.  Three hours after the first treatment the subjects received a second treatment. Data on pain intensity was created before the first treatment and after the second treatment.  The results showed a statistically significant reduction of headache intensity in the reflexology group when compared with both other groups after treatments. Reference https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30028477