Does Hay Fever Ruin Your Picnics?

Hello and Welcome to Our July Newsletter

It’s hard to believe it is July already.  This time of year as our local clients head away on their holidays we see many visitors who have come to experience the delights of sunny Glasgow.

We can help out with a lot of requests for forgotten medication and for those unfortunate folk who become ill the moment they take their foot off the pedal.  It’s a strong reminder to ensure I try and keep some balance in my own life.

One thing that can really spoil these lovely summer days are seasonal allergies.  This month we are focusing on the different ways we can help you with this.  One in four people in the UK now suffer from hay fever and if you are one of them, you will know it can be like having a cold for months on end.  

If you’re a hay fever sufferer you are four times more likely to suffer from other allergies as well.  According to The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) “Allergy is the most common chronic disease in Europe. Up to 20% of patients with allergies live with a severe debilitating form of their condition, and struggle daily with the fear of a possible asthma attack, anaphylactic shock, or even death from an allergic reaction.

Here at Westbourne we can organise blood and patch tests to establish what could be a trigger for you and then can offer a  wide range of therapies to help you manage your allergies.  Apart from pharmaceutical medication we also offer therapies which aim to treat the underlying cause and calm down your over-reactive immune system.  These include vitamin injections, light resonance, reflexology, nutritional therapy and homeopathy.

Lastly, I am proud to share that we have now been open for five years!  In that time we have welcomed thousands of lovely people into our Nourishing Studio for a cup of tea before their appointment.  After the summer we are planning a little celebration to say thank you to our clients for making this a wonderful place to practice medicine – watch this space for an announcement.

It was my frustration at being expected to diagnose illness without being given the time to understand what was the root of the problem which led me to set up this clinic back in 2020.  I had a look back at some of the lovely reviews we have received over the years and this one makes me very proud:

“It was so heart-warming to receive your kind wishes and recommendations for my care.  We both came away from Thursday’s consultation feeling uplifted because of your compassion and genuine concern. Thank you so much, so very much. I greatly admire your breakaway from the 10 min consultation and purely medical protocols. Your holistic approach shows a respect and deep feeling for your patients as human beings.”

This month’s recipe is another summer favourite of mine and extra lovely now we can use home-grown lettuce and flowers for fresh flavours.

Thank you for reading our Newsletter – I look forward to seeing you next time you are at the Studios.

Notes from Nurse Diane

This month I would like to introduce you to a new member of the Westbourne team – Nina Lunghi our new Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncturist.  Acupuncture works to restore the body’s natural balance by regulating the flow of energy, or Qi, throughout your system.  Alongside acupuncture, Nina uses adjunct therapies where appropriate during treatments. These include bodywork, moxibustion, cupping therapy, gua sha, and traditional Chinese nutrition.

Acupuncture targets the root cause of health issues while stimulating the nervous system to release natural pain relievers.  It improves blood circulation, reduces inflammation, boosts the body’s defences, and activates its natural healing processes, making it a perfect treatment for allergies.  Click on her photo to find out more…

Kombucha Masterclass with Caroline Greene 🍹

7-8.30pm on 24th July, Nourishing Studio

This will be a mini-party. We’ll mix up some different flavours and make some super-healthy, non-alcoholic, probiotic cocktails for your summer barbecues.

Caroline  will be pairing the kombucha with fermented nibbles and sharing top tips about how to incorporate these health-boosting foods into your life.

She will bring along lots of different flavours until you find the perfect drink for you. You will leave with your own scoby and full instructions so you can keep going forever because making it yourself is the healthiest and cheapest way to drink kombucha.

A little while back I was honoured to be invited to join Scott Becker for  Becker’s Healthcare Podcast to share how my global experiences and personal healing journey inspired a unique approach to integrative medicine. I also discuss the power of music, meditation, and energy in modern healthcare.…. click on the picture below to find out more.

Recipes from the Nourishing Studio
Dr V’s Blue Cheese and Walnut Salad

Ingredients:

• Rocket
• Lettuce (optional)
• 1 pear
• handful of toasted walnuts
• big slice of roquefort

Method:

• Toss them all together with a honey vinaigrette  (Blend mustard, honey and olive oil with a pinch of salt and pepper.  Add red or white wine vinegar to taste, stir vigorously with a fork and pour liberally).
• Sprinkle with chive flowers if you have them.  (Mine had just gone over but I’ve trimmed it and hope to get more in a few weeks)