Brian Isbell

Does Naturopathy have a place in Integrated Medicine?

In the Integrated Medicine column this month Dr Isbell looks at Naturopathy and what role it might have in the integration of complementary and conventional medicine.

Integrating Complementary Therapies into Mainstream Education

Over the past decade approximately ten universities in the UK have become involved in developing degree courses in complementary therapies.

The Importance of Professional Organizations in Integrated Medicine

For as long as there have been complementary therapists, there have been organisations formed by individuals or groups to promote that therapy. Frequently, early professional organisations were highly conservative and did little to bring together those practising a particular therapy, and little to promote educational and training standards.

Why develop degrees in Complementary Therapies?

By September 1998 at least ten Universities in the UK were enrolling students in degrees on Complementary Therapies. Some of the universities were offering places on up to six different courses. Most of the courses are in the more established therapies such as osteopathy, chiropractic, herbal medicine, acupuncture and homeopathy.

Dr Angela Jones

A Barn Door Case

In her column this month Dr Jones looks at a case that was uncannily typical of the remedy that she needed.

A Case for Tarentula hispanica

GP and homeopath, Dr Angela Jones, looks closely here at the case of one of her patients whose serious mental condition was finally brought under control by the medicine, Tarentula hispanica. This medicine is made up of the venom of a poisonous spider whose bite causes delirium in its victims.

A Case of Apis mellifica

I would like to share a recent case which came to me a few months ago and which has proceeded elegantly and fascinatingly so far. It concerns a charming self-employed bodywork therapist by the name of Esther. She had been diagnosed as suffering from rheumatoid arthritis in May 1996, having had problems of pain and intermittent swelling and stiffness of the left index finger for many years.

A Case of Complete Exhaustion

As a general practitioner, I frequently have patients whose chief complaint is that they are tired all the time. As you can perhaps imagine, it is a symptom to strike horror into the heart of any busy GP, who instantly knows that this will not be a quick consultation.

A Toxic Cure for Fibromyalgia

This article presents a case study of a nurse who, in addition to degenerative arthritis of the spine as a result of a back injury which was being treated with pain management techniques, developed a persistent chest infection, leg cramps, food poisoning symptoms such as acute diarrhoea at night, subsequently diagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), sweats, burning indigestion, and burning and tingling in all the muscles of her body. The latter was diagnosed as fibromyalgia, and was alleviated by the application of heat. In addition, she suffered a general malaise and terrible bouts of restlessness.

Ailments from Grief

One of the great strengths of homeopathy as a therapeutic tool is that it is ideally suited to the treatment of problems which cannot be given a medical diagnosis.

An Unusual Case

This case, though not stunningly exciting, is none the less an important demonstration of how homeopathic treatment sometimes has to progress. One cannot always find THE REMEDY straight away for a patient, particularly in adults with chronic disease. Instead the prescription of a remedy at a medium potency for the symptoms that are surfacing at the time allows the case to unfold so that, slowly but surely, progress can be made.

Another Headache Solved With Homeopathy

Homeopath Angela Jones presents a case study of a woman suffering from long-standing migraine, illustrating that perseverance is sometimes needed in finding the perfect homeopathic treatment for a patient.

Another Urinary Dilemma

The patient in this case study had suffered from endometriosis and from bowel symptoms; however, it was her urinary symptoms that had brought her to seek the help of a homeopath.

Anxiety

Like the majority of my patients, Lisa came to me because she had found that her doctors could not help her any further with her problems. Her story began the previous year when she had been sent to a gynaecologist because her periods were getting heavier and heavier.

Anxiety

Anxiety afflicts us at all times. It is part of normal life, a natural sequel to caring and responsibility. Usually, we can overcome our anxieties and continue with our lives undaunted. However, for the unfortunate few, anxiety is a source of terrible disability. One such lady came to see me last year in the hope that homeopathy could once again restore her to health.

Aurum and Despair

In her Case Study this month Dr Jones looks at several different issues in the case of a woman who had had serious surgery in the past and had got through it relatively easily. She was now driven to absolute despair by much minor ailments and was convinced that she would be dead by Christmas.

Different Approach to Urinary Tract Infection

Melanie was a chronic cystitis sufferer. She had had bouts all her life, but, over the year prior to her first consultation with me, the situation had deteriorated significantly. In previous years, she had always found Cantharis 6c very effective. She had chosen this with the help of a complementary self help guide on the basis that her main symptom was severe burning. Cantharis is the Spanish fly and its bite results in terrible burning which in turn is characteristic of conditions which respond to Cantharis homeopathically.

Folliculinum in Prolonged Stress

Those of you who read this column regularly may remember the case of Colin, a middle aged man with arthritis in the neck. He was experiencing severe depression due to an ongoing situation with his ex-wife who is an alcoholic and whom he has to continuously bail out of horrendous situations due to her drinking.

Harnessing the power of a grain of sand - Case studies of silica

One of the fascinations of homoeopathy is the extraordinary power that is produced in otherwise inert and everyday substances, by the potentisation process.

Homeopathy and Hypertension

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is the result of a combination of factors, such as inherited predisposition, unsuitable diet, kidney disease, pregnancy problems and stress.

Homeopathy for School Phobia

The author describes how, through homeopathy, she successfully treated a nine-year-old girl, Julia, who was displaying the physical symptoms of school phobia: daily headaches, weekly right-sided migraines, irritable bowel problems and a dramatic increase in her epileptic fits, which had been previously well controlled. This was despite that fact that she loved her new school, had made lots of friends and was not the subject of bullying.

Homoeopathy and Grief

One of the problems with being a homoeopath is that, so often, patients approach you as a last resort. By the time they reach your door, they have explored many avenues both conventional and alternative and are desperate to find a solution to their problem. I find this aspect of my practice particularly stressful. However, the other side of the coin is the joy when homoeopathic treatment succeeds where all else has failed.

How can this be used as evidence?

Simon did not feel well. He found it difficult to describe, to explain or quantify; he just did not feel well. He had felt like this on and off for almost as long as he could remember, even as a child. He was now going through a particularly bad patch and was finding it increasingly difficult to cope at work where he was under considerable stress. When he felt well, the stress did not bother him – he thrived on it, in fact – but now he feared that he might lose his job through his inability to cope.

Isopathic Treatment of Rhinitis

This regular column by Dr Angela Jones describes the homeopathic treatment prescribed for a teenage boy with persistent rhinitis, which caused chronic nasal obstruction, bouts of sneezing and headaches above the eyes. He also suffered from acne, was very thin despite a good appetite, had a tendency towards constipation and suffered from very smelly, sweaty feet. Character-wise he was obstinate and prone to anxiety.

Lichen Planus Helped by Apis Mellifica

This is an amazing story of how a notoriously stubborn skin condition has responded to the homeopathic medicine derived from the bee, Apis mellifica. The patient in question, Sharon, came to see me with a two year history of this problem which consists of excruciatingly itchy patches, usually affecting the arms and legs. The patches, classically purplish brown in colour and slightly raised, are irritating and unsightly.

Never Well Since...

As a conventionally-trained doctor, the concept of "never well since" was one of the aspects of homeopathy that first appealed to me, and it remains, for me, one of the most valuable tools in the therapeutic process.

Not Simply a Sore throat

Among the most irritating and distressing of symptoms are those related to the ears, nose and throat (or ENT as they are known in the trade).

Nux vomica and Bowel Symptoms

Evelyn was referred to me by her general practitioner, who described, in his letter, a history of abdominal symptoms dating back over fifteen years. Furthermore, Evelyn and many members of her family suffer from the condition known as familial polyposis coli which predisposes to the development of bowel cancer. She has to undergo annual examinations of the bowel and, understandably, any bowel symptoms cause terrific anxiety which further exacerbates the bowel symptoms.

Poison Ivy Strikes Again

This article, by one of our regular feature writers, examines the case of Ann, who had been plagued by psoriasis for twenty years. Her body was marked by large, scaly patches of thickened and inflamed skin, on which all sorts of creams and 'miracle cures' had had little effect.

Polymyalgia rheumatica succumbs again!

Susan came to me eight months ago, more or less in despair. She had been diagnosed as suffering from polymyalgia rheumatica eighteen months beforehand. Her story started three years previously when her husband died. About a year later, she and her relatives noticed that she was steadily declining in health and certainly not functioning like the hale and hearty seventy-five year old that they knew and loved.

Success with Recurrent Viral Infections

One of the areas where homeopathy has a useful role is in the management of nonspecific ill health, where a person feels generally unwell and is often prone to recurrent viral infections. Furthermore, they tend to have difficulty shaking off these infections and feel more ill still for some time after them.

Take Another Dose of Salt

Ellen had a miserable time with endometriosis for many years. She had been treated with danazol, then had difficulty conceiving, but eventually achieved pregnancy with the help of fertility drugs. Now, ten years later, she was suffering from bouts of prolonged period-type pain, but lasting for up to two weeks before her period. She had no benefit from analgesia of any kind.

Tale of My Root Canal

Homeopath Angela Jones shares her own experiences of a painful infected root canal which, after initial dental drilling, washing out and dressing, she successfully treated herself with homeopathy.

The Challenges Posed by Homeless People

In her final column, Dr Angela Jones talks about her experiences working as a GP at a specialist GP practice for homeless people.

The Power of Constitutional Medicine

I have treated Elizabeth for over five years now, on an intermittent basis. She first came to see me for her arthritis, which was causing her absolute misery. It affected her chiefly in the neck and this was resulting in great difficulty because of her occupation.

Treating Alopecia Areata

Hair loss is one of the most distressing symptoms a patient can have, not because of its life-threatening nature, but because the fear of baldness, and its accompanying social stigma, is so great in our society.

Treating Children with Homoeopathy

Our children are our most treasured possessions, or should I say our most valued charges. It is the natural wish of a parent that their child should have the best of everything, including, and especially, health.

Treating Verrucas - to Burn or Not to Burn?

The author presents a homeopathic approach to treating the viral condition of verrucas, or plantar warts, as an alternative to conventional treatment with freezing, burning, cutting or applying caustic preparations.

Two Catarrhal Tales

I have always thought of catarrh as being extremely unglamorous, as well as somewhat boring, from the medical point-of-view. As a general practitioner, there is not a lot that one can do for the catarrh sufferer apart from handing out decongestant or steroid nasal sprays, antibiotics or sympathy (or a combination of the three!).

Two Intractable Complaints

I have just heard about the death of one of my patients. Even homeopathy cannot prevent this inevitable event. Sarah was seventy-five, alert and active. She suffered a massive heart attack while cooking Sunday lunch for her family, a characteristically homely task.

Dr David Peters

A University Polyclinic at Westminster

On 14 May HRH the Prince of Wales opened the University of Westminster's new clinic of complementary therapies. Acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic, therapeutic bodywork, herbal medicine and nutritional therapy are all represented at the clinic.

The Challenge of Working and Learning Together

Complementary medicine is a relative newcomer to the NHS. CM works better for some problems (and for certain kinds of people) than it does for others and is most effective in the hands of practitioners with real knowledge and skill.

We have to educate to integrate

Integration is the new buzz-word: the argument being that non-conventional therapies are here to stay, so why not put them to work in the mainstream?

Why Research?

As we enter this hazardous age of 'Integration' (with a capital I) there's a great deal of ambivalence about what it might imply. We may be less alternative than we were, but wisely we remain unsure that we want to risk entangling with the complexity and stress of mainstream health care delivery!

Judith Price

A Common Dietary Problem: Inadequate Protein and Fats

Judith Price, a nutritionist also trained in hypnotherapy, describes the nutritional and dietary treatment given to a lady suffering from depression, fatigue, hormonal imbalance and irritable bowel syndrome largely due to inadequate protein and fats, which completely transformed not only her physical symptoms but also her appearance and outlook.

Kate Neil

ADD or Iodine Deprivation?

Nutritionist Kate Neil relates the story of a 65-year-old woman who wished to improve her mental function, suspecting that she was suffering from attention deficit disorder (ADD).

Essentially Healthy but with Minor Ailments

Nutrition Practitioner Kate Neil recounts the case of Clare, ‘essentially healthy but with minor ailments’. Clare is a 28-year-old Marketing Director with a hectic work and social life who considers herself as fairly healthy and has eaten what she believed to be a reasonably balanced vegetarian diet.

Nutritional Support for Children with Autism

Regular contributor, Kate Neil, looks at the link between autism in children and nutrition. Autism rates in Britain have risen dramatically over the last 20 years, and 1 in 500 children in the UK is now diagnosed with the condition.

Primary Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Kate Neil looks at the causes, symptoms and nutritional treatment of primary polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a common hormonal problem affecting menstruating women, using the specific case example of a 28-year-old woman who presented at her nutrition consultancy last year.

Pyrroluria - Vitamin B6 and Zinc Deficiency

Regular columnist, Kate Neil, describes the case history of Paula, a young woman of 33 who was having difficulties conceiving.

Lisa Saffron

Dialogue

This column is the last I'll write for the foreseeable future. I've written fifteen columns with topics ranging from arsenic to xeno-oestrogens. But I've kept coming back to one topic - the health benefits of organic food, a fascinating topic not because of the facts but because of what it reveals about different approaches to risk taking.

Headlice control - unnecessary chemical warfare

Headlice are a frequent nuisance but cause no hazard to health beyond an itchy scalp. Yet they are treated with toxic pesticides, potentially capable of causing greater hazards to health and the environment than the lice themselves.

The Weight of Evidence

During the last year, I have been looking closely at the evidence behind the theory that food produced by intensive agriculture increases the risk of cancer and that people can reduce their risk by eating organic food.

Mark Kane

Are You Qualified to Practise?

This question is perhaps not always asked out loud by patients but is certainly present when they first consult a practitioner of complementary therapies.

Complementary Therapies in the Next Decade: The Challenges

Never before have complementary therapies found so much favour. Patients are choosing and using complementary therapies in greater numbers than ever before.

Offering a Quality Service?

What makes the service you offer to your patients good quality? What is quality? By what standard do you want your work evaluated? Do you believe that what you offer is beyond compare? Complementary therapists see their work as highly individual and individualised.

Whose opinion counts, anyway?

Everyone has their own opinion about the effectiveness of complementary therapies. As a practitioner of complementary therapies I have to make choices and evaluate the therapies that I use day by day. The importance of this evaluation is most clear to me when I chose one therapy over another for a particular patient. As a multi-skilled practitioner I have a range of options that I can call on to treat specific problems.

Ruth White

Talk Back - From the Spine

Ruth White writes from the point of view of the backbone in the context of a case study of a woman called Christine. Christine suffered from terrible back pain and had her backbone pummeled, heated and drugged, which did not alleviate the pain. Yoga would have been a better alternative.

Unwind and Relax

Using examples of a student with acute psoriasis and her own problems with chronic back pain, regular columnist, yoga teacher Ruth White, describes how yoga was used to completely cure these problems.

Sheldon Litt, Ph.D.

Answers to Readers and Speculations on Space

I have had several responses to my recent article in Positive Health on Psychological Cloning (Positive Health Issue 20, June/July 1997). Most of these correspondents were curious about the Heaven's Gate suicide cult, and especially about the motives of the leader, Marshall Herff Applewhite.

Beauty

What is it about beauty that fascinates us? In fact, more basically, what is beauty? What are the criteria for judging something or someone as being beautiful?

Carl Jung (1875-1961)

It is now nearly 40 years since the death of one of the pioneers of psychotherapy, Carl Jung, Swiss founder of his own school of analytic psychology.

Carl Jung on Human Relations

In the last two issues of Positive Health, we discussed some of the primary ideas of Carl Jung, one of the early pioneers of the psychoanalytic movement, who broke with Freud to emerge a 'wise old man' archetype himself in his later years, making pronouncements on everything from the I Ching to flying saucers, to the future of mankind, although some considered him to be nothing more than a canny elderly fakir. In this column we will look at some of Jung's theories on human relationships.

Communication Styles

Working as a psychotherapist brings one into contact with various styles of speech patterns. Many of these are habitual ways of disturbed communicating.

Doctor of the Soul

I was in New York recently, where I had lunch with a former colleague, Harriet, who is now a high-flying industrial psychologist, whatever that is. I think she travels around giving courses to businessmen on how to use psychology to earn more profits. She is well paid for this service, compared with the meagre salary of a university teacher.

Doctor of the Soul

I was at a party last week, and sometime after a long conversation with a group of people, an unknown gentleman, well-dressed in a tweed jacket, broke in and suddenly inquired of me: "You're a doctor, what kind of doctor are you?" "I'm not a doctor," I said, "I'm a psychologist." His attitude showed a sliver of contempt, but he condescended enough to state that he was a physician and doesn't think much of mental healers.

Don Juan and Casanova

Psychology is often not the best source of wisdom concerning the passions of life. Probably better to turn to great literature and real life itself. This is especially true when discussing love and sex, those two perennials of the consultation room.

Dreams & Dreamwork

Man has speculated about the meaning of dreams since the beginning of time. Perhaps, back in the prehistoric caves, images appearing to people in dreams were the origin of the concept of the soul (i.e. in the world of the dreamer, dead people appear, therefore it could be speculated that they must be alive somewhere, in some afterlife...).

Dreams (II); Nightmares, Daydreams

A number of readers contacted me to ask about recurrent dreams and especially nightmares. In any discussion of dreams and related topics, I am often asked about daydreaming. These are some of the areas which will be under consideration here.

Encounters with Philosophers

Recently, I read in the newspapers about the current trend for people who are troubled to seek help through philosophy rather than visit the psychotherapist's office. The hope is that the philosopher, with his knowledge of the great ideas, can lead the disturbed patient to acceptance of life's difficulties and perhaps offer some time-tested logical solutions to conflicts and dilemmas.

Fate

I was involved recently in an academic discussion on the place of fate in human life. I was surprised that there were so many people there who defended the passive interpretation, claiming that a blind, or destiny controls their lives.

Frederick: A Sort of Love Story

Today I turn to a poignant and complicated issue: my friend Frederick and his 'lovesickness'. He suffers from one of the most painful forms of love distress – unrequited love. Oscar Wilde, always reliable in wit and love, summed it up as follows: "unrequited love lasts longest".

Fritz Perls and Gestalt Therapy

Gestalt therapy was originated about fifty years ago by Frederick 'Fritz' Perls (1893-1970) in collaboration with Paul Goodman.

How to be More Creative

In his column this month Sheldon Litt discusses some of the techniques that he has found to help people become more creative.

How to Make Decisions

Having trouble deciding to write about this month Dr Litt decided to write about making decisions.

Human Relations (Part II)

In the last issue of PH (31), we looked at a paradigm of different types of human relations based on the Gestalt Therapy method of Frederick "Fritz" Perls (1893-1970). The first two types, dependency and confluence (or what could be labelled "symbiosis", or in Perls' own terminology, "confluence") show a situation in which one or both of the partners involved have boundary problems.

Human Relationships

Gestalt therapy carries an existential message about human relationships. Perls' epigrammatic statement of his ethic of interaction is contained in this little verse:

I do my thing, and you do your thing.
I am not in this world to live up to your expectations
And you are not in this world to live up to mine.
You are you and I am I
And if by chance we find each other, it's beautiful.
If not, it can't be helped.

Identity Problems

This latest article from regular contributor, Sheldon Litt, discusses the issue of Existentialism in Psychotherapy and how such an approach can be of great value in the consulting room. Many patients, often young men, are confused by their own identity, but have no means of reconciling their conflict.

Laura Perls (1905-1990): Co-Founder of Gestalt Therapy

Sheldon Litt gives a fascinating insight here into the life and work of Laura Perls, one of the co-founders of Gestalt Therapy.

More on Existential Philosophy and Modern Psychotherapy

In an earlier issue of Positive Health (Issue 40, May 1999) the influence of existentialism on modern psychology was discussed. Here we will continue this discussion, looking at both the theory and practice of psychotherapy.

More on Jung

My last article dealt with Carl Jung, the famous analyst who developed a system that became one of the main rivals to Freud.

One Hundred Years of Sigmund Freud

As 1999 transforms into the year 2000, it is a good time to look back on the contribution of Sigmund Freud to the field of psychology. It was 100 years ago that Freud's first major book appeared on the world scene

Paths Through Life

In his column this month Sheldon Litt addresses the question of the path each of us takes through life.

Phobias and Fears

In his column Sheldon Litt looks at fears and phobias, the reasons for them, their treatment and the hidden issues that may lie behind them.

Psychological Cloning

Dolly the smiling sheep has her fetching photo on the front page of almost every newspaper I have seen recently, and the usual media pundits are discussing cloning everywhere I look. All this talk about the ethics and dangers of biological duplication are necessary and desirable; for myself, however, I am more inclined to ponder over the perhaps more pernicious and widespread phenomenon which could be called "psychological cloning".

Psychotherapy as a Humane Discipline (A paradigm for therapists)

Many psychotherapists are uncertain about their values and confused about the general values of psychotherapy.

Some Unwritten Laws of Psychology

The heavy psychology textbooks on my shelves contain some well-known laws: the law of effect, the Weber-Fechner law, the principle of just noticeable difference, etc. But here we will focus on those more obscure axioms that have not yet been inscribed in the scholarly literature.

The Impact of Existential Philosophy on Modern Psychology

It is now some 50 years since existentialism swept through the salons of European intellectual life. Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980) may be considered one of the leaders of the existential philosophy movement. Few philosophers today are interested in this approach, but for some psychologists the influence of existentialistic ideas has been profound.

The Psychologist's Fallacy - and other pitfalls

Today we will look at some common fallacies or misconstructions found in the general area of psychology/ psychotherapy. The most common myth, as I see it – and many are prone to this misconception today – is what American philosopher William James called (about 100 years ago) "the psychologist's fallacy."

The Psychology of Art (I)

Ever since Freud first ventured into the problems of creativity, psychoanalysis has stressed the darker, negative aspects of art.

The Psychology of Art (II)

Starting from the perspective of William Blake's "Energy is eternal delight", this article is a theoretical speculation on the origin of artistic creativity which expands psychological theory in a new direction.

The Psychology of Money

We're all very interested in money, but not many of us understand it. There are several new books on the market now trying to explain this complicated and highly emotional subject, but unfortunately they only lead to more confusion.

The Psychology of Money 2 - More on Money

I knew it, I expected it. My last article in Positive Health on money, that perennially popular topic, aroused lots of interest and responses from readers. People, as I suggested, are fascinated by money (who's not?). Even the so-called spiritual gurus who claim not to be at all interested in material wealth on this earth certainly do go out of their way to amass enormous piles of this "illusory" stuff.

The Use of The Past in Psychotherapy

In his column this month Sheldon Litt explores the use of the past in psychotherapy.

To Lie or not to Lie

Today's column comes from a discussion I had recently with an acquaintance, let's call him Herbert. Now Herb is very much in love with a wonderful woman, but despite that, he still seems to have an eye for the ladies.

What is 'gestalt' about Gestalt Therapy?

My article on Fritz Perls and Gestalt Therapy (P.H. 34, Nov. '98) raised questions from readers who wanted to know more about the origins of gestalt therapy and its relation to the earlier experimental school of Gestalt Psychology.

What's Normal?

One of the confusing elements surrounding the field of psychology is the concept of 'normal'. People ask themselves and others, "Am I normal? Are you normal?" The popular press has dozens of questionnaires every week which supposedly help the individual to determine his degree of normalcy.

What's Normal? Part II

The problem of normality in the field of psychology is a complicated one, diffused as it is with theories of health. The difficulty is that each practitioner has his own notion of what 'human nature' is, and what a healthy individual should look like. And these fundamental theories of what is normal may be explicit or, as is more often the case, implicit and unstated.

Why is Sex Important?

I'm at a party in New York. There's a lull in the conversation. A young woman next to me smiles with evil intent and asks – "Why do you psychologists think sex is so important?" I look at my watch.

Women - Why do they put up with abuse?

Although I have worked as a psychotherapist for more than 30 years, I must admit that there are many things about women that I just don't understand. Many of my patients are women caught in terrible, unhappy love stories. Some of these events I listen to as part of my job are totally incomprehensible to me.

Vera Peiffer

Creating Your Future

“An unpleasant or difficult life situation would be made a lot easier to bear if someone could tell us reliably when it would end.” Vera Peiffer looks at this statement in the light of clairvoyancy, relating how an accurate prediction helped her to hang on in during a difficult house sale. She puzzles over the question: if the future can be predicted, is there any point in striving for goals?

Do You Recognize Your Own Success?

Using the example of a hypnotherapy client who had a fear of eating in public, Vera Peiffer illustrates how often we fail to recognize the progress we are making towards our goals, whether combating a phobia or trying to lose weight.

In Defence of Positive Thinking

As many have discovered from reading Vera's book Positive Thinking, adopting this attitude can help us to overcome problems and deal with difficult life situations in a more constructive way.

It Isn't Funny

Kinesiologist Vera Peiffer highlights the devastating effect that alopecia can have on sufferers, particularly in terms of fear, lack of self-confidence and feeling self-conscious, whether experiencing bald patches or suffering complete hair loss, sometimes overnight, and resorting to wearing a wig.

Stop Being Sensible All The Time!

Using a vivid illustration of her own daring but amazing first experience of paragliding, Vera Peiffer spotlights the fact that as we get older we often slip into the same old routines and set ourselves boundaries that stifle our creative side and the magic moments in life.

Subtle Energy - Myth or Reality?

The author, an analytical hypnotherapist and health kinesiologist, seeks to prove the existence and explain the mysteries of subtle energies.

The Spectre of Fear

Vera Peiffer, hypnotherapist and kinesiologist, offers a vivid illustration of the fine line between rational and irrational fear and damaging effects of fear on our health, to the extent that it can ultimately lead to near physical, mental and emotional collapse.