Drugs in Sport (Rio Olympics Special)

With the Rio 2016 Olympics now underway, we’re coming into the business end of the event……track and field.  Many of the worlds elite athletes will be competing for gold, chasing personal bests, new world records and the ultimate rewards in their sport……… but not all. In the run up to these Olympic Games, you could hardly switch on the news without another drug / doping related issue making the headlines, with subsequent bans, exclusions (from individuals to whole countries!) before a starting gun had fired in anger. In this article I want to give you an overview of the current rules and regulations governing and working towards “drug / doping free sport”.

Doping in sport is nothing new…… perhaps since ancient times but more particularly in the last 40 years, the spectre of doping and the “clean or not clean” question has been ever present in global sport. In the Olympic context, for many, their first real awareness of doping came with the banning of Ben Johnson following his winning gold in the Olympic flagship event, the men’s 100m at Seoul in 1988. Stripped of his medal following a positive test for steroids this led many to start asking questions about all athletics. Over the intervening years since there have been many high profile drugs related issues in many sports with athletics, cycling (Lance Armstrong being the most infamous) and swimming being the most prevalent, but present at some level in many more.

Why to people cheat in sport

Why do sports people and athletes in particular take drugs? There is no simple single answer to this question. However, given the risks, to health, career, lifestyle vs the potential rewards to be gained for success and victory at the highest level: prestige, money, status etc, this is most likely at the root of it.

For some, drugs offer faster recovery, harder training, for others, it’s a way to level the field in the belief that others are using drugs. Perhaps an athlete has been injured and needs to “catch up” or maybe simply a lack of knowledge or education regarding drug use or the mistaken belief that the chances of getting caught are comparatively small. Whatever the reason, where there is competition, there will always be those that are prepared to cheat to be the “winner”

Who tries to prevent drugs in sport?

It follows therefore, that where cheating through doping is present, there must be regulation to try to prevent and ultimately eliminate it. In sport today, this role falls to an organisation called WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency).  Formed in 1999, WADA is an international independent agency funded by sports authorities and governments with the overriding vision of “a world where all athletes can compete in a doping-free sporting environment”. Operating across all competitive sports and geographies, WADA monitor and enforce their World Anti-Doping Code (new 1^st Jan 2015) via the various individual countries sports regulatory authorities, which in Ireland is the Irish Sports Council.

The “banned list”

WADA also produce “The List” each year. First produced in 2004, it is the definitive guide to substances or methods which are prohibited. Compiled and reviewed annually by a panel of 13 experts, it is issued each January 1^st. It was this review that Maria Sharapova fell foul off in January this year when she tested positive for a substance (Meldonium) which was a new addition since the 2015 list, although advisory notices had been issued in September 2015. This resulted in a two-year ban for the Russian tennis star.

The list is divided into 9 sections across 7 main classes: -

–         Stimulants (e.g. caffeine, amphetamines, cocaine)

–         Build Muscle / Bone (e.g. anabolic steroids, human growth hormone)

–         Relaxants (e.g. Alcohol, Beta-Blockers, Cannabinoids)

–         Mask Drug use (e.g. diuretics, epistestosterone)

–         Reduce Weight (e.g. diuretics)

–         Increase Oxygen Delivery (e.g. EPO, Blood Doping)

–         Mask Pain (e.g. Narcotics, Cortisone, local anaesthetics)

The above is purely indicative to show the differing areas covered. The actual list itself is a comprehensive and detailed description of exactly what is prohibited and is available for download or perusal from the WADA website (www.wada-ama.org).

What if an athlete needs a banned substance for a medical condition?

At some point, it may be necessary for an athlete, participating at international level or who is part of a registered testing pool in the Anti-Doping programme, to be treated with a medicinal product contained within the list, for legitimate medical reasons. In this case they may apply to WADA (via the Irish Sports Council) for a TUE (Therapeutic Use Exemption). There are a number of criteria that are used to determine whether a TUE will be granted. Irish Sports Council (ISC) policy regarding TUE’s is that the applicant should first consider any alternative treatment or medication that may be permitted rather than using a prohibited substance. If no suitable alternative is available, then the applicant should be guided by ISC policy to ensure compliance with TUE. Worth noting here that with Asthma being such a common condition, most of the commonly used inhaled medication is now permitted either in full or up to certain levels. The only time a TUE is required would be for Terbutaline (Bricanyl^® inhaler), which is better known as a “reliever” or “blue” inhaler to asthmatics. Terbutaline is a similar drug to Salbutamol in Ventolin^® inhalers.

The ISC also lay out a TUE policy for lower levels sports, (i.e. GAA Senior, national athletes in cycling, swimming, boxing etc.) that enables them to take the prohibited substance for genuine medicinal purposes and then if necessary, complete a “Post Test TUE”.

As you would expect, all TUE applications must be fully supported with the relevant medical history and information with details of health professionals involved.

Testing

The key to the success of any Global Anti-Doping programme is the gathering, storing and sharing of information. WADA maintains a system known as ADAMS (Anti-Doping Administration & Management System), a web based database management system which securely collects data such as an athlete’s whereabouts information, testing history (blood and / or urine), lab results and TUE management. The Irish Sports Council use a customised version of this called SIMON. All the information gathered then creates the athletes’ biological passport within the WADA infrastructure.

Top level elite athletes, subject to in or out of competition testing, are required to participate in the programme. Athletes have to provide a quarterly report of their “whereabouts” (time and place) to their relevant anti-doping agency, which is the ISC in the case of Irish Athletes. Once the information is within the database, the random testing programme is in place. So, based on the athletes’ whereabouts report, anti-doping authorities can turn up and test. It is vitally important therefore for any registered athlete to keep their whereabouts information up to date with changes via web, or even text etc as the penalties for a “missed test” can be severe, with whereabouts violations bans of up to 12 months can be enforced. There was a furore over the participation in the Women’s Cycling Road Race event in Rio of the British cyclist Lizzie Armitstead due to the fact that she was allowed to participate, despite 3 “missed test” violations last year.

There is an abundance of mis-information around these days for athletes trying to find out information about or indeed obtain drugs, supplements etc. From magazines to friends or fellow sports people or from gyms to coaches, whilst some might be valid, as a general rule of thumb, it’s always best to check information with the proper authorities.

With nearly every category of prescription drug available for purchase online without a prescription, as well as performance-enhancing drugs, taking this route can be a minefield as it is completely un regulated and you really have no clue what you are buying or any guarantee of quality. In addition, it is a criminal offence to import prescription only drugs into Ireland or indeed to be in possession of prescription only drug without the relevant prescription. Customs and Excise have ramped up their vigilance on illegal drug imports and convictions are increasing also.

Dangers of supplements

In addition to drugs, there are many dietary or nutritional supplements advertised that appear to offer amazing results in terms of performance improvement, again, many recommended by someone in the gym or a fellow competitor. In most cases, there is absolutely no actual evidence to support the claims made.  As they are not medicines, they are not subject to the same rules when it comes to description of ingredients or labelling. There have been incidences where supplements have contained an undeclared prohibited substance, which then show up as an adverse finding in a test.

Allegedly, it was just such an adverse finding that resulted in the boxer Michael O’Reilly being eliminated and sent home from the Rio Olympics following a positive test for a prohibited substance on 4^th August. According to him, it was in a supplement he took.

In general, the ISC advise against the use of supplements believing that correct diet and balanced nutrition should provide anything a supplement claims to offer.

Creatine

One substance that often comes up in the “supplement” discussion is Creatine. Widely promoted via health and fitness publications and websites as a muscle, stamina and power builder, (kidney) it is not a prohibited substance. General advice would be to view and assess its use in the same way as supplements. Direct effects of consumption include weight increase and water retention. There is no evidence that long term use would have any adverse effect, there is some slight concern on the possible long term effect on renal function. The Irish Sports Council website offers comprehensive advice and information regarding the anti-doping programme and enforcement in Ireland. (www.irishsportscouncil.ie)

No shortcut to success

If you are engaged in sport, at whatever level, like anything in life, there is no shortcut to success. In general terms, you get out of it what you put in. If you are in any doubt at all about what you can and cannot take, it is always best to consult a health professional, either your GP or your Pharmacist or perhaps a specialist in Sports Nutrition before you take it!!! or indeed check out any of the online resources outlined above.

Updated by Eamonn Brady MPSI in Aug 2016 to coincide with the Rio Olympics.

Whelehans Pharmacy, 38 Pearse St, Mullingar (Opposite the Greville Arms Hotel). Tel 04493 34591. www.whelehans.ie or info@whelehans.ie. Find us on Facebook

Asthma: get the facts

Asthma is a long-term condition that can cause coughing, wheezing and/or breathlessness. With asthma, the airways become over-sensitive and react to things that would normally not cause a problem, such as cold air, exercise, animal fur, pollen or dust. Muscles around the wall of the airway tighten up. The lining of the airways swells and sticky mucus is produced.

Approximately 470,000 people have asthma in Ireland. Ireland has the fourth highest prevalence of asthma in the world after Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Asthma in children is more common in boys than in girls. Children who develop asthma at a very young age are more likely to 'grow out’ of the condition as they get older.

There is no cure for asthma. Treatment is based on relief of symptoms and preventing future symptoms and attacks. Successful prevention is through a combination of prescription only medication, lifestyle changes and identification and avoiding asthma triggers.

Short-acting beta 2-agonists inhalers work quickly to relieve asthma (eg) Ventolin^® inhaler. If an asthmatic needs to use their beta agonist inhaler too regularly (three or more times per week), they should have their therapy reviewed. Excessive use of short-acting relievers has been associated with asthma deaths. This is not the fault of the reliever medication, but is down to the fact that the patient failed to obtain treatment for their worsening asthma symptoms.

Preventer inhalers reduce inflammation in the airways and prevent asthma attacks. The preventer inhaler must be used daily for some time before full benefit is achieved. Preventer inhalers contain an inhaled corticosteroid. (eg) Becotide^® inhaler

If short acting beta 2-agonist inhalers and preventer inhalers are not providing sufficient symptom relief, a long-acting reliever (long acting beta 2-agonist) may be tried. Inhalers combining an inhaled steroid and a long-acting bronchodilator (combination inhaler) are more commonly prescribed than long acting beta 2-agonists on their own. (eg) Seretide^®, Symbicort^® inhalers.

If treatment of asthma is still not successful through use of inhalers alone, options include oral leukotriene receptor antagonists (eg. Singulair®) and oral theophylline (eg. Uniphyllin®, Phyllocontin®). If asthma is still not under control, regular oral corticosteroids may be prescribed.

Asthmatics who are pregnant should manage their asthma in the same way as before pregnancy. Most medicines used for asthma have been proven to be safe to take during pregnancy and when breastfeeding. The exception is leukotriene receptor antagonists (eg. Singulair®).

This article is shortened. More detailed information and leaflets on Asthma is available in Whelehans or at www.whelehans.ie. Tel 04493 34591

Disclaimer: Information given is a very general overview of asthma; ensure you consult with your healthcare professional for specific advice

Eamonn Brady is a pharmacist and the owner of Whelehans Pharmacy, Pearse St, Mullingar. If you have any health questions e-mail them to info@whelehans.ie

Asthma : Why is it getting more common?

Many studies show that asthma is getting more common in Ireland. I often get asked why this is the case? As an asthma sufferer myself, I decided to look into it more.

The 'hygiene hypothesis'

The 'hygiene hypothesis' is a theory that lack of exposure in early childhood to infectious agents means that the child’s immune system has not been activated sufficiently during childhood. This lack of exposure is down to our super clean modern living conditions including anti-bacterial washes, antibiotics and general sterility where children are not exposed to germs in a similar manner to previous generations. The theory is that immune system is “not activated” during childhood; this leads to the immune system becoming over sensitive to common substances such as pollen, dust-mite, animal fur; leading to the higher incidence of auto-immune conditions like asthma, hayfever and eczema in recent years.

One of the first scientific explanations of this theory was by David P Strachan from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who published a paper on the theory in the British Medical Journal in 1989. He noticed that children from larger families were less likely to suffer from autoimmune conditions like asthma. Families have got smaller in the Western world over the last forty years, meaning lower exposure to germs and infections. It is over the same period that health authorities have seen an explosion in autoimmune conditions such as asthma. Further studies show that asthma is less common in developing countries, however when immigrants from developing countries come to live in developed countries where living environments are more sterile, these immigrants suffer from increased levels of autoimmune conditions like asthma and the rates increases the longer immigrants live in developed countries. It is a difficult to advise parents accurately on what is the best way to bring up their children in relation to this theory. All parents want the best for their children and common sense tells us all that cleanliness is important. No health care professional will be able to give you exact advice. In my opinion, a balanced view is to ensure children are administered important vaccines but “allow kids be kids”, let children play outside with friends and try not to worry about them coming in contact with dirt and germs, but always be cautious with children with life threatening food allergies. Only use antibiotic when really needed.

This article is shortened. More detailed information and leaflets on Asthma is available in Whelehans or at www.whelehans.ie. Tel 04493 34591

Disclaimer: Information given is a very general overview of asthma; ensure you consult with your healthcare professional for specific advice

Eamonn Brady is a pharmacist and the owner of Whelehans Pharmacy, Pearse St, Mullingar. Tel 0449334591. If you have any health questions e-mail them to info@whelehans.ie

 

Some helpful study and exam preparation tips

An old saying goes, “You cannot plough a field by turning it over in your mind”; the same is true for exams; worrying will not help but study will.

With exams looming, stress levels are rising. Essentially it is time to clear the “desk” of guilt and regret for what appear to be many lost hours not devoted to study. It may very well be the situation; however it is essential to realise that there is still a considerable amount of time left to prepare for the looming exams. It is important not to lose hope or minimise expectations. There is still adequate time to brush off the study cobwebs and get stuck in to a study plan, so you have to stop procrastinating and get organised. Avoid getting overwhelmed; it is amazing how much you can learn in a short space of time

As Gandhi said, “You may never know what results come of action, but if you do nothing there will be no result”

Planning

The secret to doing well in exams lies in planning so if your notes are not in order, this is the first thing to attend to; file your subjects and gather all your written homework essays assignments. Pay particular attention to the suggestions/comments your teachers have made. Organise physical space to study and establish a routine of going there. Do not study on the bed, always use a study desk; bed might induce sleep and it can also impact on your sleep pattern during the night. 

Have study and a revision plan; if you have not done one, do one now. Following the plan and developing study patterns will enable you to study more productively. Avoid interruptions and start off with ten minutes revision of the subject in hand. Especially avoid having your mobile phone at hand or any such distractions as it will break your concentration. Everyone revises differently. Use headings, highlighting and revision cards, get revision guides. Make notes of the important points when revising. Use past exam papers and do model answers. Make sure to check past exam papers and familiarise yourself with the structure and format of each exam subject.  It is a good discipline to practice answering exam questions within the specified time limits. Check your answers against your notes to make sure you’ve got them right. Know the exam timetable and try to study in the same order. The night before the exam, leave cramming to one side and stick to what you already know. When studying the night before an exam, you run the risk of making yourself nervous if you try to learn new information. Review your notes or test yourself on key points.

Exam Day

On the day of the exam avoid talking to fellow students about the exam as it could confuse you or make you lose confidence in yourself. Similarly avoid talking to others about the exam after it’s done as you might start to doubt yourself, which may lead to stress and reduce your confidence in your next exam paper. During the exam remember to use your time strategy for reading the exam paper and the amount of time you need to allocate to each question. Read the instructions very carefully then scan the whole exam paper. Start with the questions you’re most confident with, break the questions down to make sure you really understand what you’re being asked.

Parental Support

As a parent guardian you can support your exam student through exam preparations and the actual exams by making home life as calm and pleasant as is possible. Some short term allowances may need to be made to alleviate the pressures and stress that come naturally with exams.

There will be some free time from school in the run-up to exams, if possible try to be at home so that you can share a break and a chat together. It is important to make sure there are plenty of healthy snacks in the fridge to provide good, nutritious food at regular intervals. Eating a balanced diet of “brain food” that includes fresh foods (especially fruits and vegetables) and regularly eating at meal times (especially breakfast) can help to maximise brain function and manage stress levels more effectively.  Ensure that there is a protein source in the diet (eg. Fish, chicken which are necessary for energy), include Vitamin C and B-complex Vitamin sources (eg. broccoli, tomatoes, citrus fruits, potatoes) Make sure that he or she eats a good breakfast on the morning of the exam. Encourage your son or daughter to join in on family meals (even if it's a busy revision day) as it is important to have a change of scene and get away from “the books” for a while. Encourage and support regular exercise, such as a brisk walk as it can help clear the mind before the next revision session. Tensions can get high during these few weeks, so be mindful of this and avoid “nagging” or make any demands on your son or daughter during exam time.

Benjamin Franklin once said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail“. Good luck with the exams!

 

Thanks to Finola Colgan Development Officer of “Mental Health Ireland (Midlands)” for her help with this article.

 

For comprehensive and free health advice and information call in to Whelehans, log on to www.whelehans.ie or dial 04493 34591. You can also e-mail queries to info@whelehans.ie.

 

 

Why we need Pain but not all the time

We all suffer at one point or another in time, an episode of pain and discomfort. Some aches and pains last seconds while others last days and weeks. Pain in essence is a part of our life and, believe it or not is very important process in keeping us safe and healthy. If we just think about this for a moment, what if there was no pain? That would unfortunately mean that every time you stubbed your toe it could result in a broken bone or major infection from a minor bleed. After all how would you feel it if you couldn’t feel pain?

There is actually one recorded incident of someone that did not feel pain. This woman unfortunately died very young at the age of 29 due to the fact that she could not sense when she had injured herself. So pain in its simplest form is a protective mechanism designed to keep us safe.

Too much pain
This is all well and good but there is also a flip side to this with many people suffering from chronic pain or pain that comes and goes but is constant throughout their life. This is unfortunately a scenario that is all too common in Ireland with many people struggling to get free of the shackles that pain can enslave them to.

So what is the best thing to do when you’re in pain? Seeking help from Health and medical professionals is always the first and most important step. Be careful however as it is also very important that the health professionals that you approach have the correct skills for helping you and that they have a plan or pathway to other professionals if it is beyond their level of expertise. Just like it takes a carpenter, plumber, electrician and architect to build a house the same could be said with looking after your aches and pains. It might take one person such as your GP to help you or in a lot of cases other health professionals such as pharmacist, physio or surgeon. So just to summarise, pain is an important sensation in our bodies but if it is worrying or concerning you, seek out a medical or health professional that you trust and that can guide you on the path back to health.  

Health Step Physiotherapy

In line with our vision to offer as wide a range of quality health services to the local community as possible, Whelehans Pharmacy are delighted to announce their new Physiotherapy service, Health Step Physiotherapy, operated by fully qualified Chartered Physiotherapist, Kevin Conneely MISCP. Kevin offers reduced physiotherapy rates for under-18s, students with valid student ID and for Over 65’s. He also offers reduced rates for affiliated sports clubs and other groups. Health Step Physiotherapy is now available to book. Simply contact Kevin on 087 4626 093 to advice or call Whelehans at 04493 34591 to book an appointment. Check www.whelehans.ie for more info.

Thanks to Kevin Conneely, Chartered Physiotherapist from Health Step Physiotherapy based at Whelehans Pharmacy for info for this article.

Sugar – Right information enables Right Choices

Great turnout at Sugar and Fat Information evening

There was barely a seat to be had at the Whelehans Pharmacy “Sugar and Fat” information evening held at the Greville Arms Mullingar last Monday 7^th March.  An audience of over 200 people attended what was a truly enlightening event. The huge turnout further underlines people’s desire to be informed and get the right information from those that know.

Prior to the main event presentations, people arriving were able to explore a variety of information and support stands from the Irish Dental Hygienists Association, Diabetes Ireland and an excellent Food Table presentation prepared by Owen Pettigrew of St Marys NS Mullingar and presented by his friend Niall Doonan also from St Mary’s NS.  In addition, in line with the event theme, free Glucose and Blood Pressure checks were on offer. These proved extremely popular, with over 100 people taking advantage of this throughout the course of the evening. Whelehans Pharmacy would like to extend a huge vote of thanks to the Order of Malta staff who administered the checks. Their work is all voluntary, so, much appreciated.

“One Easter Egg can have 73 Teaspoons of Sugar!”

Pauline Dunne, Senior Dietitian and Regional Development Officer, Diabetes Ireland, was the first speaker of the evening. The particular focus of her presentation was the Diabetes Ireland “Sugar Smart” campaign running currently on their website.

Starting with a broad outline of “the balanced diet”, illustrated via the six main food groups on the classic Food Pyramid, Pauline moved to Sugar awareness. From this, she was then able to quantify the “recommended daily amount” of sugar a person should consume……which is 200 calories or 12.5 tsp (50g). Defining the standard measure of 1 teaspoon = 4g of sugar, Pauline then went on show the audience some extreme sugar content examples taken from the Sugar Smart campaign.

There were audible gasps of amazement (horror?) when Pauline showed a selection of sugar content infograms ranging from a typical “cinema combo” (46 tsp of sugar!) to the humble festive mince pie (6 tsp!).

Given the time of year, Pauline also showed a startling table outlining the sugar content contained in a variety of Easter Eggs (topping out at a massive 73 tsp…in one egg offering!!)

Pauline then gave a range of helpful food management tips and strategies before concluding with a summary around balanced diet, getting smarter about food labels and portion sizes and the importance of daily regular exercise.

The “Silent Killers”

Next up was Eamonn Brady MPSI, Pharmacist and owner at Whelehans. Dovetailing perfectly with the previous talk, Eamonn gave an insightful symptoms overview of the conditions most related to obesity, namely cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure along with outlines of medications associated with managing these conditions. Eamonn described the three conditions of high cholesterol, high blood glucose (Diabetes) and high blood pressure as the “silent killers” as for most people they are symptomless but greatly increase your risk of premature death from heath disease.  Given that a high number of the audience had their glucose and BP checked, the information presented hit the right note with a “cautionary” style.

Eamonn also stressed the importance of regular checks for all the “numbers” associated….so, Cholesterol …. Less than 5.2mmol/litre, Diabetes / Glucose….less than 7mmol/L, and BP less than 140/90 mmHg being the ideal target levels….

In line with the Diabetes Ireland message, Eamonn further highlighted the preventative benefits of a balanced diet and regular exercise regime.

Obesity is a ticking time bomb

Following a short break, the main speaker of the evening was Dr Donal O’Shea, Consultant Endocrinologist at St Comcille’s and St Vincent’s hospitals and leading Obesity expert, specialising in obesity in children.

In what was to be a highly informative presentation, Dr O’Shea began his talk by illustrating the changing nature of health in Ireland over the last 30 years. Whereas in the past, someone who was 17- 20 stone would be uncommon, today this weight level has become prevalent. Dr O’Shea outlined the various societal factors that contribute to this, commenting that whilst life expectancy is now longer than it has ever been, what this actually means is that more people are living longer with chronic medical conditions and the associated burden on the already stretched resources available.

Dr O’Shea then moved on to his specialist area, Obesity in Children. The audience were left under no illusions as to the dangers and epidemic proportions of the Child Obesity problem in Ireland. He showed examples to illustrate the insidious corporate and profit based nature of product placement and advertising by food and drink manufacturers that subliminally targets children. One particular example, that of a simple bag of tortilla chips, promoted as a “game” that then developed into over consumption through “playing” especially in early teens….resulting in huge sales for the manufacturer. Again, his message was unambiguous……. in Ireland, this needs to change, now, today, at a fundamental education level.

The “Imperative for Change” was then explored further with information of gene related evidence of the vastly increased levels of diabetes and cancer projected for the population over the next 30 years.

Many examples of the changing attitudes to food consumption in other countries were given. A light hearted, but none the less serious look at the” Food Pyramid” concept around the world only added to concerns of the stasis that exists in Ireland regarding the challenge facing the healthcare profession in the future.

Would we allow 7 year old children smoke?

The most startling image of the evening was that of a 7 yr old girl smoking……. Dr O’Shea shared his view, that the revulsion that people feel seeing that picture should be the way they feel about seeing children consume sugary foods and drinks …. It is really that harmful. Dr O’Shea predicted that “in 15 years' time sugar sweetened drinks will be considered effectively poison, if not banned, to those under 18. It will be like a kid smoking, that is how it will look and it just won't be acceptable."

To conclude, Dr O’Shea gave his views on the right type of exercise…..that of more endurance and stamina based activities, rather than pushing weights….

In summary, he said that childhood obesity is the biggest societal and public health challenge we face and again that all sugary drinks should be replaced with water and to advocate the views of previous speakers, plenty of the right exercise and proper sleep.The event closed with a very interactive Q&A session.

Whelehans Pharmacy would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who took the time to come along and support the event. Thanks also to those who provided stands and information, and lastly, to our speakers. Keep an eye on press for our many upcoming events over the next few months.

For comprehensive and free health advice and information call in to Whelehans, log on to www.whelehans.ie or dial 04493 34591.

 

 

Massage and Massage Styles

Famous Greek Physician Hippocrates is considered one of the pioneers of modern medicine; he had a high regard for massage, and considered it one of the arts which a “well-rounded physician should be familiar”. Hippocrates cautioned that “a real proficiency in this art doesn't come quickly, but rather, with lots of hands-on experience.” 

Modern medicine often underestimates the power of massage both emotionally and physically. Massage therapy means many things to many people. A recently published article identifies more than 80 different styles of massage, many of which have been developed in the past 30 years. Below is a brief overview of massage styles offered by Whelehans Pharmacy’s resident Chinese Medicine Practitioner Eddie Eddie.

Swedish Massage

This is the most common style of massage practised in Ireland. Swedish massage is based on the western concepts of anatomy and physiology as opposed to energy work that is more common in Asian-style massage, such as Tui Na. This is a gentle, relaxing massage that is the foundation for most other types of western massage, including sports and aromatherapy massage. Good for – introduction to massage, stress relief and relaxation.

Massage with the use of Herbal Poultices

A Poultice is a blend of mud, clay, wax or other base material with medicinal herbs which is heated and applied to the body. The usage of poultices dates back to ancient times. Through the years the technique has been honed and evolved to utilise the best materials and to deliver the best medicinal effect. While it may appear similar to the use of mud or clay in a spa setting; a herbal poultice is different in that it is done specifically for medical effect rather than cosmetic reasons. Herbal poultices are used widespread in China and can be found in most hospitals. A poultice is a unique drug delivery system. The heat opens the pores of the skin which allows the herbal medicine to diffuse through the skin and then into the bloodstream via the local capillaries. This technique avoids any drug allergy effects and bypasses complications from medication needing to pass through the digestive tract. Poultice therapy is that it can be applied virtually anywhere on the body and different herbal formulas can be used to treat a variety of conditions. Good for - increasing the flow of blood to an injury, relaxing tense muscles, soothing inflamed tissues, or drawing toxins from an infected area.

Deep Tissue massage

Deep tissue massage is a therapeutic massage where deep pressure is applied to muscles and/or connective tissue in order to correct issues such as muscle strains from sporting activity. This is not a relaxing massage, and many people can be slightly sore for a day or two afterwards due to lactic acid being flushed from their muscles. For the relief of chronic knots and tension built up over a lifetime, an integrated program that includes exercise, work on your posture and relaxation techniques often produces the best results. Good for - sports injuries, breaking down scar tissue, chronically tight and painful muscles.

Trigger Point Massage

A trigger point is a tight area within muscle tissue that causes pain in other parts of the body, for example a trigger point in the back, may produce referred pain in the neck.

Trigger point massage focuses on specific areas of the body, rather than massaging the whole body. In this technique deep pressure is applied to specific points within a muscle in order to allow it to relax. Deep tissue and trigger point massages are very similar. The main difference is that deep tissue massage uses various traditional massage techniques to work the tissue, whereas trigger point massage is literally looking to manipulate or press on that one point that releases the tension in a muscle, thus deactivating the trigger point and stopping the pain. Good for- muscular aches that conventional massage doesn’t resolve (often the muscles in the painful area are not tight).

Myofascial Release

Fascia is a thin, tough, elastic type of connective tissue that wraps most structures within the human body, including muscle. Fascia supports and protects these structures. Fascia is normally pliable allowing for normal movement while providing support. Injury or tension resulting from repetitive motion or poor posture can result in the fascia and muscles it connects to tensing up. Pain or soreness caused by fascial restriction typically won’t show on a CAT Scan, MRI or X- Ray and many people can suffer unnecessary as a result. Myofascial release is a soft tissue therapy for the treatment of skeletal muscle pain or immobility. This is not typically a deep massage as myofascial release uses stretching movements and sustained pressure to loosen myofascial restrictions. Good for – aches and pains of an unspecific nature.

Tui Na Massage

Tui Na has developed continuously in China for over 5000 years. Tui Na and acupuncture use the same meridians and points and they are both based in traditional Chinese medicine for diagnosis: seeing, touching, palpating and questioning. Many of the techniques used in this massage resemble western massage including gliding, kneading, vibration, tapping, friction, pulling, rolling, pressing and shaking. It is the use of acupuncture points and meridians combined with traditional diagnostic skills that make it unique. One of the many advantages of Tui Na is that it can be taught to a patient as a remedial therapy to

perform daily as a routine to support the healing process. In China, Tui Na is subdivided into specialized treatment for, orthopedics, traumatology, rehabilitation, sports medicine, etc.

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine Clinic at Whelehans Pharmacy

Eddie Dowd (BSc Ac, BSc CHM, Dip Tuina, MATCMI) runs Mullingar Chinese Medicine and Massage Therapy Clinic at Whelehans Pharmacy. Call 083 1229363 or email eddiedowdtcm@yahoo.co.uk to book or to enquire. Clinics are Monday 8:30am-2pm and Thursday 8:30am to 6pm. Thanks to Eddie for help with this article.

Disclaimer: Chinese or traditional medicine should NOT be seen as an alternative to assessment and treatment from your GP or other healthcare professional. Chinese medicine can however compliment conventional medicine.

For comprehensive and free health advice and information call in to Whelehans, log on to www.whelehans.ie or dial 04493 34591.