London Heal

The gentle caress of a mother's touch evokes the ultimate feelings of safety and calm. This effect is exploited in a psychosensory (mind and senses) technique known as Havening. Carol Robertson is a Havening practitioner and teacher. In this week's episode she shares her knowledge of this powerful technique to help alleviate the symptoms of stress, trauma and more. She details the proposed neuro-biochemical process involved in decoupling memories or beliefs from emotions. She describes various Havening techniques and their application to specific situations. Havening can also be easily learned for personal use. We also discuss the potential for Havening in settings such as schools and the workplace. A fascinating insight into another technique to add to EFT and EMDR in the psychosensory toolbox. For more information please visit Carol's website: psychosensoryacademy.com Become a London Heal Insider and receive EXCLUSIVE access to extended show notes at Londonheal.com

Astrology is viewed either as a bit of fun or a serious divination tool. In the hands of Mark Jones, it becomes a form of road map to identify familial and ancestral patterns. Mark is first and foremost a psychotherapist who practices psychosynthesis - a therapeutic approach devised by the Italian physician, Roberto Assigioli. This form of therapy assumes a spiritual nature to psychotherapeutic healing and provides a framework for clients to transform their lives into ones filled with meaning and purpose. In combination with astrology, this becomes a powerful tool to achieve such transformation. Mark details the history of psychosynthesis, its relevance in our modern world and it application to healing trauma and soul memory. A fascinating insight into a unique therapeutic approach that integrates astrology in an unconventional, yet powerful way. For more information go to Mark's website PlutoSchool.com Become a London Heal Insider and receive EXCLUSIVE access to extended show notes at Londonheal.com

Do you feel disconnected, separated and incomplete? The only way to end this agony is to 'Know Thyself'. In this second of two interviews, Advaita Tantra teacher, Igor Kufayev shares his insights into recognising this as a desire to embark on a spiritual journey. He talks about what drives us to search and to trust that we are always guided. We then discuss the rise of the divine feminine and how this manifests in society, its risks and what it really means for the individual. Igor shares his thoughts on the modern desire to reach enlightenment and whether consciousness hacking is useful or even possible. He eloquently describes spiritual evolution to understanding that life is a joyous journey as one becomes the walking universe. For more information please go to his Website: http://www.igorkufayev.com Documentary Film: Entering the Heart - The Work of Igor Kufayev Interview with Igor Kufayev: Piercing the Veil and much more on the YouTube channel: Flowing Wakefulness Fellowship Become a London Heal Insider

Western medicine views disease and illness as a dysfunction of the the component parts and systems that make up our physiology. Eastern traditions take a different view and include the expression of creative intelligence or consciousness in the manifestation of disease. Igor Kufayev is a teacher of Advaita Trantra and, in this first of two conversations, he takes us on an in-depth journey to try and understand the roles of different levels in health and disease. These levels comprise the gross or physical level, the subtle or neuronal flow and the causal or karmic level. He elegantly describes the role of the causal, karmic level in creating disease. He shares his wisdom on karma, and how there are also different currents of karma that act on us in ways we can and cannot control. He discusses the importance of self responsibility and living consciously and how we can direct certain karmic currents in this way. He discusses the importance of understanding the source and treatment of disease. In a rather contro

Celebrating 50 episodes, a meditation to get you through stressful and uncertain times. Also prompted by the European Elections, this spontaneous and unplugged episode looks at the emotions of frustration, uncertainty, anger and disappointment. I share my thoughts on how we can help manage these emotions in a way that builds resilience, and taps into our inner resources. We look at getting out into nature, expressing gratitude, and cultivating perspective. The episode ties up with a two-part meditation to help you lower your stress response and build your emotional resilience to cope with life challenges better. Listen to the mediation alone over at LondonHeal.com. While you're over there, become a London Heal Insider and receive exclusive access to extended show notes.

Your immune system and your brain communicate. We now know that the brain also has it's own immune system in the form of microglia cells. Professor Hugh Perry has studied microglia cells since the 1980's. In this fact filled episode, he eloquently describes the microglia cells, how they move from a resting to activated state and their role and function as the immune cells of the brain. Using Alzheimer's disease as an example, he discusses the role of microglia and the attempts to modulate these cells for therapeutic value. He also details how the immune system communicates with the brain in health and disease. The role of systemic inflammation in developing Alzheimer's is also a topic and what we can do to support our microglia and brain health. For more information visit The UK Dementia Research Institute Become a London Heal Insider and receive EXCLUSIVE access to extended show notes at Londonheal.com

Do you ever think about how you breathe? The breath is one of the only autonomic nervous processes that you can also actively and consciously control. This means controlling the breath can access control over the nervous system. This week's guest, Niraj Naik, also known as 'The Renegade Pharmacist' has pioneered a methodology that incorporates ancient, pranayama-based breathing techniques with rhythm and music. Niraj talks about the profound effects that breath work techniques can have on our physiology, psychology and consciousness. He talks about his own health journey and how his techniques and lifestyle interventions can harness your breath for improved health by activating the pharmacy within. For more information, join Soma Breath's Facebook Community at facebook.com/groups/somabreath; attend one of the free weekly seminars by going to somabreath.com/awaken; or visit the websites somabreath.com and therenegadepharmacist.com For free access to a breath work meditation go to Londonheal.com/episodes Becom

Is your body responding well to the physical demands you place on it? Many physical injuries are caused by not being correctly prepared. My guest this week is Scott Livingston, certified athletic therapist and strength and conditioning coach to professional and olympic athletes. Scott joins us to talk about Reconditioning, a holistic approach to sport injuries that views the athlete as a whole. In addition, it also facilities the seamless integration of various treatment modalities by sharing a common language. Scott believes that everyone is an athlete. Top athlete or hobby gardener, Scott shares his insight into how to meet your personal physical demands whilst minimising injury and maximising success. He also provides useful tips on how to maintain the health benefits of movement with ease and how we should raise children to be physically literate. For more information find Scott on Instagram @kingopain: twitter @builtbyscott or on FB under Scott G Livingston Become a London Heal Insider and receive EXCLU

Why do we no longer respect and value our elders? Today's youth obsessed culture has forced us to pursue youthfulness at all costs and deny ageing. In this week's solo episode, I challenge this paradigm and explore our perceptions that ageing is a slow path to disease, decrepitude and dementia. I explore how ageing has it's positive aspects and that elders have a valuable role to play in society. The responsibility lies in our hands to learn how our minds and bodies can be cared for to maximise our chances of living healthy for longer. By remaining healthy, active and fully engaged in life, we can shift the profile of ageing and change the perspectives of the older adult into that of an elder. Only by educating ourselves can we take back control of our healthcare and learn to age gracefully, but vibrantly. Become a London Heal Insider and receive EXCLUSIVE access to extended show notes at Londonheal.com.

The incidence of chronic disease is rising rapidly. Simultaneously, the costs of healthcare are also rising and are not sustainable. In addition, the medical outcomes for many conditions are less than satisfactory. Something is clearly not working. Fortunately, a paradigm shift in the approach to healthcare is taking place as the UK government has announced a program of Universal Social Prescribing within the National Health Service. Instrumental in this program is my guest, Dr Michael Dixon, the National Clinical Lead for Social Prescription (NHS England). In this episode he describes the need for a medicine that is more than pills and procedures. He describes how social prescription takes a holistic view of patients and supports them in making lifestyle changes, solving life challenges and integration into social networks. Initial results have shown great promise in improving the physical, emotional and mental health of patients while saving costs. Michael strongly believes that social prescribing is the wa

Do you eat on the go or late at night? The ancient practice of Ayurveda works on the basis of doshas to understand a person's psycho-physiology and the interaction with the environment and time. Jillian Lavender returns to share her insights into how to adopt simple and easy Ayurvedic practices into our busy, modern lives. She discusses the doshas, what they mean to an individual and how nature's cycles also express doshas. Jillian discusses the tenant of Ayurveda, which is to prevent the build up of blockages or Ama, especially with respect to digestion. She shares valuable tips on how, what and when to eat to bring your system back into harmony. The smallest changes that follow Ayurvedic principles can have profound effects on your health and wellbeing. For more information please go to The London Meditation Centre or The New York Meditation Center. Become a London Heal Insider and receive EXCLUSIVE access to extended show note for all future episodes at Londonheal.com

Herbal medicine was the only medicine for thousands of years and the precursor to modern pharmaceuticals. The healing power of plants is the passion of this week's guest, Simon Mills, who is a world authority on herbal medicine. Simon shares his wisdom on how herbal remedies work differently to pharmaceuticals and how the formulation of these remedies is holistic and bespoke to the person. He discusses the medicine cabinet in your kitchen and the role of herbs and spices in diet and the microbiome. In the face of increasing chronic disease, Simon comments on the future of herbal medicine and the essential role it can play. He also gives tips on finding a good practitioner and the best diet to exploit the healing power of plants. For more information go to http://www.herbalhub.net For further reading, see The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism and other books by Simon Mills. Become a London Heal Insider and receive EXCLUSIVE access to extended show notes over at LondonHeal.com

Allergies are on the rise, but why do we get them in the first place? In this week's episode I discuss the main theories for why we get allergies and what occurs at a cellular level when an allergic reaction takes place. The choice of conventional therapies is relatively limited, but there are several lifestyle, dietary and supplement changes that we can make to help alleviate the symptoms and support the immune system. There are recognised alternative therapies that may help sufferers of allergies and there are also a few tips and tricks that can really make a difference. This overview of allergies wouldn't be complete without a mention of the role of the mind body connection, and how getting your mind on board just might be the best medicine of all. Become a London Heal Insider and receive EXCLUSIVE access to extended show notes at Londonheal.com

Your heart sends more signals to the brain than the other way round! In this fascinating interview, Rollin McCraty, Scientific Director of the HeartMath Institute, explains how the heart can actually regulate brain activity and the implications of that for health, wellbeing, performance and resilience. He discusses the concept of heart coherence and the relevance of our emotions, and that we can actively learn how to self regulate. He also talks about the ability of the heart to influence those around us and the role it plays in our interaction with the earth itself. For more information go to HeartMath.org For a 20% discount on Heartmath products, go to HeartMath.co.uk and enter the coupon code 'LONDONHEAL' at checkout! Become a London Heal Insider and receive EXCLUSIVE access to extended show notes at Londonheal.com

Only about 10% of people who suffer a cardiac arrest survive. Matt Brown is luckily one of those 10% and this week he shares his journey to recovery. In this candid and inspirational interview, Matt relays the sequence of events that followed his cardiac arrest, the fact that CPR saved his life, the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest, the consequences of being in an induced coma, and the subsequent neurological problems he had to face. He talks about the incredible value of neurological rehabilitation and how mindset and a great support network were key to his recovery. Become a London Heal Insider and receive EXCLUSIVE access to extended show notes at Londonheal.com

Modern life is more challenging than ever before. The ability to not only bounce back from adversity, but actually bounce forward and adapt is known as resilience and is a powerful quality of being human. Sadly, the rise in mental disease and chronic diseases seems to indicate a lack of resilience in many people. Professor David Peters is the Medical Director of the Centre for Resilience at the University of Westminster in London. In this episode he defines resilience in terms of our ability to regulate our emotions, the evolutionary biology and physiology behind it, and explains how the extent of our resilience in response to stress varies widely among people and why. He discusses the enormous role of the autonomic nervous system in our health and how mind and body are inextricably linked through the vagal system. He shares his insights into the implications of resilience for effective complementary therapies and the practitioners themselves. He also provides useful advice on how to train and improve resilie

Warm, loving relationships are essential to our emotional and physical health. In a time where many people are isolated, disconnected and lonely, it's all the more important to learn the art of warm loving relationships. In this week's episode, relationship therapist and coach, Fiorella Martin discusses how virtual relationships are no substitute for the real thing. She shares her insight into the basic fundamentals of all types of relationships and what can go wrong. We discuss the emotional and physical impact of dysfunctional relationships and what constitutes a healthy warm and loving relationship. Fiorella explores the problems with conducting healthy relationships in the modern world and the conditions that have to be met to start repairing damaged relationships. She talks about the value of the love languages and some problems and solutions to aid effective communication between partners. The central issue of creating a warm and loving relationship with yourself to enable such relationships with others

Modern societies eat far too much processed food, leading to unhealthy diets and disease. Heather Richards, a certified nutritionist and educator is passionate about Real Food. In this episode she outlines what constitutes real food and why it's vital to control your blood sugar levels. We discuss the pitfalls of food labels and starchy carbohydrates. She shares vital information for vegans regarding supplementation and discusses the difference between plant and animal sources of Omega 3 fatty acids. Heather also provides advice on eating for a healthy microbiome and the importance of a varied diet. We take a look at the relevance of food quality and the importance of choosing the right oils for your diet and why the once healthy seed oils are damaging your health. A wealth of essential nutritional information that can help everyone easily follow a healthy diet. For more information and courses see The Sano School of Culinary Medicine For the Restaurant see SanoToGo Become a London Heal Insider and receive E

Are you embracing your natural sleep patterns and internal clock? Circadian Rhythms are almost a hallmark of life and regulate vital processes in the brain and body, including sleep. In this episode, Professor Russell Foster shares his research and insight into how the human eye sets our master clock in the brain and the implications for orienting ourselves to out external environment and ensuring healthy sleep. He discusses why sleep is so important and how disrupted sleep has serious implications on health and mental health in particular. In a sleep deprived society, he shares simple measures to help set the internal clock, the importance of sleep education and the potential of sleep as a therapeutic target. For more information go to ndcn.ox.ac.uk/team/russell-foster Watch his TED talk: Why do we Sleep? Become a London Heal Insider and receive EXCLUSIVE access to extended show notes at LondonHeal.com

Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Medical Acupuncture is a Western take on the traditional, usually practiced by trained medical professionals. Dr Mike Cummings is Medical Director of the British Medical Acupuncture Society (BMAS) and a practicing acupuncturist. In this episode he describes the current scientific understanding of how acupuncture works as well as discussing if, when and with whom it works the best. Mike describes the application of acupuncture in treating musculo-skeletal pain, but also other conditions where it can be of benefit, especially it's potential in inflammatory diseases. He also discusses the problems with studying the efficacy of acupuncture and compares the observations he makes in clinical practice. He provides sound advice on how to find a good practitioner and how best to go about starting a complementary medicine journey for a patient. For more information visit the BMAS website at medical-acupuncture.co.uk For EXCLUSIVE access t