Positive Health Online

10 Ways to Step from Grief and Guilt into Grace  –  and Step into Bliss

Grief is not something we simply “get over”. It is something we move through, layer by layer, until the love remains and the pain begins to soften. Whether we have lost a loved one, an animal, a relationship, a dream or a part of ourselves, grief can take us on a profound journey of healing.

1. Allow yourself to grieve.
   There is no right or wrong way to grieve. Give yourself permission to feel whatever arises without judgement. Let years flow. Old childhood programming can cause us to hold back the tears which is unnatural and not healthy. 
2. Understand that grief comes in layers.
   Like peeling an onion, each new loss or emotional trigger can uncover another layer of an older grief. This doesn’t mean you are going backwards — you may simply be ready to release more.

https://organic-aromatherapy.co.uk/shop/all/ultimate-stress-relief/

3. Honour the love that remains.
   Sometimes the hardest part is loving someone who is no longer physically here — having all that love with nowhere to hug, nowhere to place it. Remember that love itself does not die. The loved one will be waiting for you. 
4. Include the childhood toys we have lost, relationships and animals we have loved.
   The loss of a beloved animal can create an enormous emptiness. Their presence, companionship and unconditional love deserve to be grieved just as deeply.
5. Release the guilt.
   The mind often asks, “What if?” or “If only I had…” Guilt can keep us tied to the past. Gently remind yourself that you acted with the understanding and resources you had at the time.
6. Let the tears flow.
   Tears are a natural expression of emotional release. In many holistic traditions, grief is associated energetically with the lungs. Allowing yourself to cry can be a powerful way of giving emotion somewhere to move.
7. Breathe into your heart.
   Place your hands over your heart and breathe slowly. With each exhalation, imagine releasing what you are ready to let go of; with each inhalation, receive love. Try the “ankh breathing” practice shared by Sarah or simply “box-breathing” breath in for 5 hold for 5 then sigh out for 5 and hold out for 5. 
8. Honour rather than hold.
   Letting go does not mean forgetting. We can honour the person, animal or experience while releasing the suffering attached to the memory.
9. Give yourself permission to live again.
   Laughing, dancing, creating and experiencing joy are not betrayals of those we have lost. Your happiness does not diminish your love.
10. Step into grace and bliss.
    As each layer releases, space opens within us. Grace is the gentle acceptance of what is. Bliss is allowing ourselves to receive life again — carrying the love forward rather than carrying the pain.

You do not have to let go of the love. You only have to let go of the pain that prevents you from feeling it.”

Further Information

Please contact Sarah Williams on Tel: 07710 994432; sarah@organic-aromatherapy.co.uk   https://www.organic-aromatherapy.co.uk   https://organic-aromatherapy.co.uk/store/

Sayer Complementary Health –  I have Worked as a Homeopathic Practitioner for Over 30 Years

I have been working as a homeopathic practitioner for over 30 years and in that time, I have met many clients of various ages and covered a wide range of health issues.  Taking a detailed case history is not something that can be rushed.  It is important to listen carefully to what the person is saying, observing their expressions, noticing if they seem emotional or upset or even restless.  There are some clients who come along with a health issue but when answering questions about their health they can become reticent or say what they think you wish to hear.  Case taking and ultimately selecting the homeopathic remedy that is most suited to the person is something that takes hours of study and understanding of the philosophy of homeopathy and knowledge of the homeopathic repertory and materia medica.

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https://www.homeopathinessex.co.uk/homeopathy 

I was recently asked about a serious health condition and if homeopathy could help.  As a non-medically qualified homeopath I explain that I am unable to diagnose any medical condition and would not interfere with a medical diagnosis or alter any medication prescribed by a consultant or GP.  However, homeopathic remedies can support a wide range of ailments and they do so without the side effects that are often associated with medicines, lists of these side effects will be on a sheet enclosed with the relevant pharmaceutical prescription.

Another question I get asked is if homeopathy can help animals.  My answer to that is definitely but while anyone can purchase homeopathic remedies from their local health shop and administer to their own animal, I cannot do so since I am not a vet.  I do of course suggest that if they wish to pursue homeopathic veterinary care, then they should seek the advice and guidance from the British Association of Homeopathic Veterinary Surgeons https://bahvs.net   I know from personal experience using homeopathy with my own cat is how well animals respond.

My practice, Sayer Complementary Health is based in Burnham on Crouch, Essex. Consultations take place on-line with either Zoom, Messenger or Facetime allowing the client to reap the benefit of the consultation without the need for them to travel.  It also enables the client to make best use of their time since adding travel time into the consultation time can mean that they are out of work/home/ for some considerable time. 

My Homeopathy at Home course is designed to help you learn how to select homeopathic remedies that will address minor ailments such as coughs, colds, headaches and sore throats and may even negate the need for a visit to the doctor.  Should you wish to develop further once completing this course, then the Homeopathic Practitioner Diploma course is an in-depth course whereupon successful completion entitles you to register as a homeopathic practitioner and build your career as a homeopath.

Further Information

For further details on any of the above, please telephone Tel: 07980 386552 or email me at sayercomplenentaryhealth@gmail.com or visit www.homeopathinessex.co.uk and please mention Positive Health when making contact.

Turning Point Training – Postgraduate Courses in Craniosacral Therapy and Homotoxicology

Turning Point Training offers postgraduate courses in Craniosacral Therapy and Homotoxicology. Our students come from a variety of backgrounds both in conventional and holistic disciplines. This allows an exchange of information and experience that enriches the learning experience. Courses are mixture of leading-edge, scientifically based theory and clinical and practical tuition. Students are encouraged to explore and develop their gifts and talents in bringing their unique experience to the disciplines taught. Students are thus empowered.

Jonathan Lawrence BA DO Cert Ed and Rosemary Lawrence Dip BFD Cert Clin Hom Cert Ed

Middle: Practitioner Course and Electroacupuncture: Bottom: Craniosacral Course 2019

Small groups help to facilitate this experience. Turning Point teachers are enthusiastic and experienced practicing therapists who keep their knowledge up to date. The philosophy of Turning Point encompasses the idea that medicine is an art informed by science. We believe that the conventional materialist paradigm is very much out of date and that scientific knowledge has now reached a point where much of holistic medicine can incorporated into a new paradigm. Turning Point courses introduce the concepts of research and encourage students to critically evaluate current information.

Craniosacral therapy is based on the relationship between the structure and function of the body and the expression of health. Specific, gentle and skilled manipulation can help to restore the structure-function relationship supporting the patients’ own homeostatic mechanisms. This non-invasive and safe therapy can be used on patients of all ages from the new-born to the elderly.

The Practitioner Course This consists of 8 modules over 5 weekends and 20 hours Zoom support days. In addition, students must complete a portfolio of case studies and complete an exam. Practical skills are assessed during the course. This course is recognized by the CMA. Next course commences February 5, 2027. This course is led by Jonathan Lawrence.

Homotoxicology is based on the idea that disease results from toxic load. In modern life we are subject to toxins from a variety of sources. This has the effect of stressing the immune system leading to ill health. Accurate prescribing can help the body gently detoxify aiding the restoration of homeostasis. The remedies used are specially formulated homeopathic remedies to achieve a specific physiological response.

The Online Diploma in Homotoxicology is via the Society of Homotoxicology, UK. Contact us for access to this course.

Electro Acupuncture According to Voll (EAV) is a postgraduate course.

This method involves electro-acupuncture assessment of acupuncture meridians to find imbalances in the body. The 12 traditional Chinese meridians are tested plus the addition 9 Voll Meridians discovered by Dr Reinhard Voll. Training is via small tutorial groups led by Rosemary Lawrence. Next course starts on 24^th April 2027

Further Information

For information about training in these disciplines visit www.turningpointtraining.org

Good Mood Food

by Tim Spector with Dr Federica Amati | Recipes by Kathryn Bruton HB 

Published by Jonathan Cape. Oct 2026. Hard Back. • £30 ISBN -10. 9781787336476

The groundbreaking new cookbook from scientist, No.1 bestselling author and ZOE co-founder, Tim Spector. Good Mood Food

“I want to share what I’ve learned about how we can all achieve better mood, increased energy levels and long-term brain health, through delicious, easy, satisfying recipes – all grounded in the latest science”

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Mood-Food-friendly-bestselling/dp/1787336476/ref=sr_1_1

For centuries, medicine has treated body and mind as separate concerns. But a revolution is underway: the science is now clear that what we eat directly affects how we feel, and the long-term health of our brains.

In Good Mood Food, Professor Tim Spector – Epidemiologist, Microbiome Pioneer, and the UK’s most trusted voice in Nutrition Science – reveals the powerful connection between gut and brain. When we nurture our gut microbiome with varied, plant-rich food, we can improve our energy, day-to-day mood, mental health, and cognitive resilience as we age.

The recipes in Good Mood Food are designed to support whole-family health, with targeted ideas for protecting brain health over time, reducing the risk of future cognitive decline, and supporting those already experiencing symptoms. They also offer faster benefits: boosting mood and energy within days when dealing with work stress, family pressures, low mood or anxiety. And for children – at the critical window when neural connections are forming – these recipes could make a meaningful difference.

From 15-minute meals to weekend batch cooking, cupboard raids to on-the-go lunches – Good Mood Food makes eating better feel effortless and genuinely pleasurable.

About the Author

Tim Spector MSC FRCP MD FRSB OBE is Professor of Epidemiology at King’s College London and one of the world’s leading scientists. He is the bestselling author of The Diet Myth, Spoon-Fed, Food for Life, The Food for Life Cookbook and Ferment, and scientific co-founder of ZOE, the gut health company. A pioneer of microbiome research, he is among the top 100 most cited scientists in the world and was awarded an OBE for his contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic. His Channel 4 documentary series What Not to Eat (January 2026) achieved record viewing figures with more TV to come. https://www.instagram.com/tim.spector 

Further Information

Available to Purchase from https://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Mood-Food-friendly-bestselling/dp/1787336476/ref=sr_1_1

The Leopard and the Moon: A Journey in Dolpo, Nepal

by Nigel Roberts.

Published by ImperfeCt Books. 2026. Paperback. £13.99. ISBN-13 :979-8992821109

Family members of people struggling with mental illness and addiction often ask themselves the same painful questions: What more should I have done? What did I miss? Why couldn’t I save them? Nigel Roberts knows those questions intimately. After losing both his daughter and former wife following their battles with bipolar disorder and addiction, the former World Bank director embarked on a two-month, 450-mile trek through Nepal. His new memoir, The Leopard and the Moon: A Journey in Dolpo, Nepal, chronicles that physical journey while exploring the emotional realities faced by countless caregivers whose efforts could not save the people they loved.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Leopard-Moon-Journey-Dolpo-Nepal-ebook/dp/B0GT6JYQ52

Roberts does not claim to have found definitive answers. Instead, he offers something many caregivers need just as much: recognition that they are not alone in their uncertainty, grief and self-questioning. “We are part of a community,” Roberts said. “We're impelled to reach out with our experiences to other people and help validate them. Even if it’s just to say: ‘this is what I went through. Many of you have been through something similar. You’re not alone. And I guess I’m not alone.’”

In The Leopard and the Moon, Roberts retraces a path made famous by Peter Matthiessen (The Snow Leopard) and George Schaller (Stones of Silence), while navigating something more complex than terrain alone: the emotional aftermath of tragedy. His daughter, Tess, who lived with bipolar disorder, died at 25. His wife, Mandana, died four years later after her own struggle with bipolar disorder and addiction.

“I questioned what I did, what I failed to do, and why I didn't do better,” he said. “I sensed that being in Nepal, a place very familiar to me, would take me back to times when happier futures felt possible – and that writing about the journey might help me better understand what happened, as well as preserve some memory of Tess and Mandana.”

Roberts chronicles both the physical demands of the hike and, through insistent recollections, the emotional reckoning that unfolds alongside it. Woven throughout are observations about Nepal’s own dramatic trajectory. The result is a memoir that speaks not only to personal loss, but to the broader struggle to find meaning in suffering.

George Schaller himself writes, “Your manuscript ... is excellent. Your Nepal history provides a superb overview, and your frequent quotes from the past and present greatly add to the text. Your evocative writing retrieved many memories of the brilliant and cold landscape, of blue sheep courting, and of digging up caterpillar fungus.” Midwest Book Review says this book takes the reader “along a life journey that while intensely personal, has a universal resonance that will linger in the mind and memory of the reader long after the book has been finished.”

About The Author

Nigel Roberts is a dual citizen of the United States and the United Kingdom. Raised in a British colony in Africa and educated in British boarding schools, he worked for 30 years in the World Bank and became a specialist in civil conflict. Today, he remains a consultant on global conflict and lives in Virginia with his second wife and his grandson Alex, Tess' son. Connect with the author on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nigel.roberts.739  and LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-roberts-8778563b/)

Further Information

Available to purchase from https://www.amazon.com/Leopard-Moon-Journey-Dolpo-Nepal/dp/B0GT6Z6BPD/

Who the Legal Research Assistant Supports

Sabinet’s Legal Research Assistant has been developed to support a range of users working with South African legal information. While research requirements differ across professionals, the need for reliable, accurate, up-to-date and authoritative legal information remains consistent.  Built on Sabinet’s trusted South African legal content, the Legal Research Assistant helps users work more efficiently while maintaining confidence in the sources provided. Responses are grounded in accurate and trusted legal information and supported by linked citations to the underlying Sabinet source document. 

https://sabinet.co.za/south-african-legal-research-assistant-ai-powered/

Legal Practitioners

Legal practitioners often work under time constraints and require quick access to relevant, accurate legal information. The Legal Research Assistant supports efficient legal research by providing source-based answers linked directly to up-to-date legislation, judgments and law journal content, allowing users to verify information and move seamlessly into deeper research where required.  

Academic Researchers and Students

Researchers and students regularly engage with large volumes of legal information across multiple areas of law. Sabinet’s Legal Research Assistant helps to identify relevant, accurate sources and provides structured entry points into unfamiliar topics and supports learning through transparent access to underlying legal information. 

Law Librarians and Information Specialists

Librarians and information specialists support diverse research requirements across institutions and organisations. Sabinet’s Legal Research Assistant serves as an additional research tool, helping users locate up-to-date, accurate and trusted Sabinet legal information while maintaining transparency, traceability and confidence in the sources used. 

Government and Compliance Professionals

Users working in government or compliance roles require access to current legislation and clarity on regulatory frameworks. Sabinet’s Legal Research Assistant supports these needs by providing contextually relevant information linked to accurate and trusted Sabinet South African legal sources, enabling more informed decision-making and research.

Across these groups, the focus remains consistent: improving access to trusted South African legal information while maintaining transparency, traceability and confidence throughout the research process. By combining natural language queries with accurate, up-to-date and trusted legal information, the Legal Research Assistant enables users to move efficiently from query to answer and into deeper research when required. 

Who the Legal Research Assistant Supports

The Legal Research Assistant has been developed to support a range of users working with South African legal information. While needs differ across roles, the requirement for accurate, accessible and reliable information is consistent. 

Across these groups, the focus remains consistent. Improving access to relevant and up-to-date legal information while maintaining trust in the sources and outcomes of the research process. 

Further Information

Please access  Sabinet’s Legal Research Assistant  at  https://sabinet.co.za/south-african-legal-research-assistant-ai-powered/

World Cancer Research Fund International

CUP Global Panel meeting in London

Last month, World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) International's Global Cancer Update Programme (CUP Global) Panel and Observers met to evaluate the scientific evidence linking soy and isoflavones, ultra-processed foods (UPF), tea, and coffee to cancer risk - reviewed by our collaborators at Imperial College London. Also examined were the gaps and limitations in the current research and there were discussions about priorities for future work.

https://www.wcrf.org/

INSPIRE Research Challenge: Panel Meeting and Interviews

The INSPIRE Research Challenge Panel met online in early July, bringing together experts over three days (and seven time zones!). During the meeting, the Panel reviewed and discussed 39 applications from early career researchers representing 13 countries. Following the Panel meeting, a selection of applicants were invited to attend video interviews with the Panel Chairs, where they responded to questions about their proposed research. The quality, ambition and potential impact of the research presented were highly encouraging. Funding recommendations will be reviewed by the WCRF Network Board at the end of September International Society of Exercise Oncology

Recently, Elaine Green, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, and Dr Helen Croker, Assistant Director of Research and Policy, attended the inaugural conference of the International Society of Exercise Oncology (ISEO) in Heidelberg on behalf of WCRF International, exploring what the evidence on physical activity and cancer means for public health policy. Although a growing body of evidence shows exercise can improve outcomes for cancer patients, significant barriers still stand in the way of embedding it into routine clinical care. 

Nutrition Society Congress  

Representing WCRF International at The Nutrition Society Congress, Kristy Maskell, Senior Research Intepretation Officer, gained valuable insights on the gut microbiome and ultra-processed foods, connected with researchers advancing food and nutrition science. All discussions were highly relevant to WCRF International's ongoing CUP Global programme. It was great to see our network contacts presenting, including Regular Grant Programme (RGP) Grant Panel member, Prof Bernard Corfe, recently appointed President of The Nutrition Society.

American Society for Nutrition

Dr Fiona Malcomson, Scientific Advisor for the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), attended the American Society for Nutrition (ASN) conference in Washington and reflected on the stimulating science presented.

Why Might ‘Morning People’ have Lower Breast Cancer Risk?

A new study funded by Wereld Kanker Onderzoek Fonds (WKOF) has identified five proteins in the blood that may help explain why people who are naturally ‘morning people’ tend to have a lower risk of breast cancer than ‘evening people’

Celebrating 20 years of progress with the Mexican Teachers’ Cohort

Over 20 years, the Mexican Teachers' Cohort has followed more than 115,000 women working in Mexico’s public education system, generating evidence on health and disease risk factors.

House of Commons Committee calls for the UK Government to ‘stand up to food industry’

The Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee published a report calling on Government to stand up to industry and tackle obesity through a bolder food environment policy.

The Association of Medical Research Charities Updates 

National Institute for Health and Care Research's (NIHR) investment

We're proud to be one of 89 charities awarded a share of NIHR's £37m investment, supporting over 800 early-career researchers across the UK. This funding will help nurture the next generation of researchers, driving forward better prevention, treatment and care for patients.

Expert Review Audit 2025

WCRF International are equally thrilled to share that we've passed the Association of Medical Research Charities' (AMRC) 2025 Expert Review Audit, demonstrating our continued commitment to robust processes for funding high-quality research.

Last week's World Breastfeeding Week (#WBFW26) was a timely reminder that breastfeeding matters not only for infant health, but also represents a long-term investment in women's health. Evidence from the WCRF International's flagship research programme, Cancer Update Programme (CUP Global), shows that breastfeeding reduces a mother's risk of breast cancer, with longer durations of breastfeeding associated with greater protection. This adds to the many well-established benefits of breastfeeding for infants and families, and reinforces the importance of viewing breastfeeding as part of a life-course approach to cancer prevention. But breastfeeding is not simply an individual choice. It is shaped by the environments in which women live and work. Access to maternity protection, supportive healthcare, workplace policies and community support all influence whether women are able to breastfeed for as long as they choose.

This year's World Breastfeeding Week theme, "Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works", is a timely reminder that creating supportive systems is essential if we are to improve health outcomes for both mothers and children. In 2025, our Policy & Public Affairs team developed a dedicated Policy Factsheet setting out practical pathways to implement our Recommendation to 'breastfeed if you can' and reduce cancer risk across populations.

Recent publications from our researchers across the network

1. The Tumor Multi-Omic Landscape of Endometrial Cancers Developed on a Background of Adiposity, Professor Emma Vincent, University of Bristol 
2. The association of plant or animal food origin and processing level with BMI and waist circumference: a prospective cohort study of the UK Biobank, Professor Christopher Millett, Imperial College London 
3. Association between lifestyle and risk of early-onset cancer: Evidence from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition and the UK Biobank, Dr Mazda Jenab, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) 
4. Sustainability dimensions of diets with varying levels of food biodiversity in the NutriNet-Santé study, Dr Inge Huybrechts, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) 
5. Redefining light-chain smoldering multiple myeloma: prevalence and progression risk, Dr Sæmundur Rögnvaldsson, University of Iceland 
6. Circulating metabolites and fatty acids associated with ultra-processed food consumption: results from the EPIC study, Professor Christopher Millett, Imperial College London
7. Prognostic host phenotypes based on body composition and systemic inflammation predict survival in patients with resected pancreatic and periampullary cancer, Professor Steven Olde Damink, Maastricht University 
8. Concurrent cognitive and physical training for cognition in men with prostate cancer: a study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial, Dr Ben Rattray, University of Canberra

Connect with us at conferences this year

We have an exciting conference attendance programme planned for 2026. We will be attending several major conferences, including:  

• World Cancer Congress (WCC), Hong Kong – September 
• World Health Summit (WHS), Germany – October 
• Momentum: Accelerating Europe's Action on Cancer, Sweden – October 
• Global Obesity Forum 2026, Spain – October 
• European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), Spain – October 
• Chinese Conference on Holistic Integrative Oncology (CCHIO), China – November 
• 19th European Public Health Conference (EPH), Spain – November 

Further Information

We value the opportunity to connect with our contacts in person at conferences. Please let us know what conferences are on your radar, if you plan to attend –whether you’re submitting an abstract, leading a session, or giving a presentation –let us know by emailing polisci@wcrf.org.  https://www.wcrf.org/