Regulations & Registrations.

I can hear everyone groan!! Ohhh Red Tape!...…...

But…there is good red tape!

This red tape is here to keep everyone safe, that means both Clients and Practitioners.

It is a privilege for me to be part of RICTAT (The International Register of Integrative Colon Hydrotherapists and Trainers.) They are the fastest growing international body, uniting colonic hydrotherapy professionals and promoting high ethical standards.

Every year they run continual professional training events and conferences, ensuring practitioners have the most up to date information about clinical protocols, legalities of practice and product information. They also coordinate business and practitioner networks, and there is an extensive pool of expert knowledge available in this incredible organisation.

RICTAT is also the expert advisor on colon hydrotherapy to the GRCCT (The General Regulatory Council for Complementary Therapies). The GRCCT acts as a voluntary regulator of CAM therapies, (Complementary and Alternative Medicine.)

Regulation and registration of complementary therapists in the UK is by means of voluntary self-regulation. This means that there are no laws to protect the public from unqualified or incompetent therapists, so to ensure the public is protected, many therapists apply to join the register to prove they are professionally trained.

Part of the ongoing requirement of being on the register is that therapists have to agree and evidence that they do a certain number of continuous professional development hours. This also applies to being a member of RICTAT.

Over the past few years and in accordance with recent government recommendations, various professional associations, including RICTAT, have been working together to agree on

common National Occupational Standards and requirements in colon hydrotherapy, which are now agreed upon and published. RICTAT are a founder association of this process, which sets the standards for anyone wishing to become a member of RICTAT.

The General Regulatory Council for Complementary Therapies (GRCCT) role is to be an overarching independent regulator, and they have established a national register of practitioners. They protect the public by independently validating all registered therapists' status—the GRCCT work with over 50K practitioners from a vast array of disciplines.

Practitioners that are on the National Register agree to abide by a Code of Professional Conduct & Ethics.

They are answerable to the GRCCT Complaints and disciplinary procedures.

I consider it to be immensely important and a privilege to belong to both RICTAT and the GRCCT.

They are there to ensure I have the best and most up to date information and support. This enables me to offer the best possible care to my clients.

Our Body’s Many Cries for Water.

To perform at our best and keep our health at an optimum, hydration is critical!

Our bodies struggle to function when we are short of fluid. The human body is 60% water. The brain is about 73% water, and the lungs are 83%. The skin contains 64% even the bones are a watery 31%! As a rule of thumb, a person can survive without water for about 3 days…

Life can be incredibly busy, and before you know what time of day it is, you realise that you have not had a drink all day! Dehydration does not affect everyone in the same way, we all have a different tolerance level, but it will cause symptoms that disturb our daily performance and health.

Symptoms can include: -

· Lack of concentration, Fatigue, Headaches.

· Light-headedness, Sluggishness, Muscle cramps, Constipation.

· Urinating less frequently, this can contribute to urinary tract infections.

· Changes in blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature and many more.

Several other factors can increase your need for liquid in your day. If your job is very active, if you’ve been exercising or sitting in an office with heating and air conditioning, all these situations will contribute to your needing to take on more fluid during your day.

Hydrating fluid can be taken from many areas, including water and vegetables, fruits, tea, and coffee. Coffee! Coffee! I hear you saying! NHS scientists have stated that drinking up to four cups of coffee a day carries no health risk. This is a huge relief to me, and many others no doubt. However, 4 cups of coffee a day is not enough fluid to keep you at your body at its maximum potential every day.

Dehydration is also a leading cause of constipation. The digestive system needs plenty of water to keep food waste moving through it; otherwise, the stool will become dry, hard, lumpy and difficult to pass. In many cases, simply drinking plenty of water can help relieve constipation.

The benefits of good hydration are:

· Increased energy levels.

· Longer periods of concentration.

· Fewer headaches.

· Better bowel function.

· More stability in our heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature.

· Clearer skin.

Here are a few strategies to help you increase your daily water intake:

· Every time you go to switch on the kettle, have a glass of water first. If you still fancy the hot drink after that then go ahead and make it.

· If you’re feeling peckish mid-morning or mid-afternoon, have a glass of water instead of a snack.

· Try and drink a glass of water 30 minutes before a meal.

· Carry a 600ml bottle if you are out and about, try and finish one by lunchtime and one by teatime.

· Set the alarm on your phone.

· Download the App, ‘Water reminder Daily Tracker’.

With a few adjustments to your daily routine, you will reap tremendous benefits.

Probiotics & Prebiotics

My journey began in Colonic Hydrotherapy and digestive health back in 2006.

Pro & Prebiotics were in their infancy, and we only knew about one, Acidophilus. It was a temperamental soul that needed to be refrigerated, and then they were solely derived from animal. Wow, has this world changed! Now we have blends to suit various problems, from constipation, diarrhoea, post-use of antibiotics, traveller’s tummy to name but a few. There are numerous species. They are mostly all now vegan and can survive sitting on your bathroom shelf. Scientists continue to learn more and more each year about how they live and function within us.

There is often some confusion about their role in our health and what they are. Probiotics and Prebiotics are very different. We need them both to work closely together to support our digestive health.

Probiotics. These are living bacteria and yeast that, for the most part, live in the intestinal tract. This good bacteria helps to balance out the harmful bacteria in the digestive system. We get probiotics from foods and supplements.

On their own, probiotics have a limited effect. This is because they are easily destroyed. To live, probiotics need food. This is where Prebiotics come in.

Prebiotics

Prebiotics are not live bacteria; they are a form of fibre. Probiotic bacteria in the gut digest fibre. These are found in the food we eat and supplements.

So, what role do these bacteria have in our gut?

Probiotics support our gut microbiome. About 80% of your immune system is in your microbiome, your body’s bacteria, which help your body with just about every process, including digesting your food, thinking clearly and even maintaining a healthy weight.

Gut dysbiosis is a term used when the bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract, which includes your stomach and intestines become unbalanced.

When your gut microbiome is balanced, you stay healthy, you’re in good spirits and have great energy. When it’s out of balance (dysbiosis), you are not functioning at your best and are walking towards a host of health issues.

The gut microbiome is destroyed by highly processed foods, sugars, antibiotics, chronic stress, anxiety, food poisoning, gastroenteritis and some medications. This list sadly goes on and on.

We can do a lot to help ourselves by maintaining the right balance of these bacteria present in our bodies and giving them the best possible environment to live in.

A few ideas of foods that contain Probiotics (bacteria)

Yoghurt with live cultures, Kefir, Buttermilk, Aged cheeses, Brined pickles & Olives, Sauerkraut, Apple cider vinegar, Kimchi, Pickled beets, Miso, Tempeh, Soy sauce, Traditional sourdough breads, coconut kefir.

A few ideas of foods that contain Prebiotic foods (food for bacteria)

Onions, Asparagus, Berries, Bananas, Beans, Lentils, Chickpeas, Cabbage, Leeks, Oats, Peas, Wheat germ, Wholegrain, Garlic, Jerusalem artichoke, Oatmeal, Barley, Flaxseeds,

Keeping a healthy balanced diet with lots of variety and seasonal fresh local foods will help support your gut microbiome. If you feel you would like to discuss Pro & Prebiotics as a supplement to your diet, please don’t hesitate to give me a call and we can discuss your options.

If I can help you in any way, please do get in touch.

Best wishes

Wendy