What Is IIH? Idiopathic Intercranial Hypertension Explained By Natalie Peeke

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September has always been one of my favourite months , the leaves starts to change colour , the temperature starts to drop, wearing slippers and snuggling under a blanket is more acceptable. Children return to school with new school uniform and start a new chapter of their lives. Everything just feels like it’s changing and I love it. However the past 2 years September has also meant something else to me, it is the month of awareness for IIH. 

What is IIH I hear you ask ? It stands for Idiopathic Intercranial Hypertension. Clear as mud right ? When the doctor told me that he said it with his serious doctor face on and I chuckled and said ‘in English?’ Basically it means that I have high fluid pressure in my brain , idiopathic means that they don’t know what the cause is. 

So I’m going to talk to you about some of the fabulous symptoms that go with having IIH in order to raise awareness for this rare condition. 

  • a constant throbbing headache which may be worse in the morning, or when coughing or straining.
  • temporary loss of vision. 
  • feeling and being sick
  • feeling sleepy
  • feeling irritable
  • finding it difficult or painful to look at bright lights 
  • hearing a pulsing noise in your ears
  • problems with co-ordination and balance
  • mental confusion
  • loss of feeling or weakness

Glorious isn’t it? IIH is often treated with medication , I am taking a drug called Acetazolamide which comes with its own and rather long list of side effects. The one that has effected me most is my sense of taste , especially with drinks, pop especially cola now tastes so bitter I can’t stand to drink it. And fruity drinks tast very sour. 

As of yet there is no cure for IIH but the lovely people at www.iih.org.uk are constantly raising money for better , more effective treatments as well as supporting those affected with IIH and their families. 

For me personally some days are are bearable , and others are not. Everyday is painful but what keeps me going is the support I have from my family , my amazing partner , beautiful children as well as the online community, with a rare condition it can be easy to feel as though you are alone and that others don’t understand what you’re feeling but there is always support out there. No one is alone. 

Great News: Yorkshire Venue Marsden Mechanics Joins Forces With Poet Laureate Simon Armitage and Band LYR To Bring New Cultural Events To Rural Communities

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Marsden Mechanics (https://www.marsdenmechanics.co.uk/) announces ‘Tenterhooks’; a community arts project led by Marsden-born Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, the band LYR and Marsden Mechanics – a large scale creative endeavour culminating in a day of celebratory performances and viewings to be held as part of ‘Cuckoo Day’ Saturday 26th April 2025.

Following the huge success of recent events at the venue which looked to the building’s history and its legacy to inform its latest series of live performances – providing rural communities the opportunity to experience high-quality concerts without coming up against cost prohibitive travel and accommodation – this latest venture embraces the same ethos, but is stepping up its ambitions with the additional goal of helping people within this rural community near Huddersfield to be actively involved in the creation of the next generation’s artistic and cultural heritage.

Poet Laureate Simon Armitage Photo credit. Paul Stuart Photography

Poet Laureate Simon Armitage was born in the rural Yorkshire village and, together with Marsden Mechanics, formed a plan to create the next phase in an ongoing endeavour to ensure that everybody should have the opportunity to access top calibre cultural and artistic events and experiences, no matter their location or financial status

Armitage will be working with the band LYR (of which Armitage is one of the three founder members) Marsden Mechanic’s Development Manager Jonny Kelly, and, vitally, the people of Marsden. The plan is to create a visionary project which invites the local community to take part in a series of creative storytelling events to uncover untold stories of Marsden and its rich heritage. Armitage will take these stories and develop a series of new poems. Then, alongside his bandmates Richard Walters and Patrick Pearson, will set poems to music.

These poems will then be returned to the community for interpretation, and local creatives will be supported by Marsden Mechanics in creating brand new art  – everything from songs to sculptures, literature to theatre; culminating in a day of celebratory performances and viewings to be held as part of  Cuckoo Day on Saturday 26th Apr 2025. The goal of which, is for Marsden’s collective voice to resonate in celebration of its past, present, and future.

“Marsden is in my blood and in my poems. It’s a modern village but one with a deep history, full of stories and myths, and the Tenterhooks project hopes to turn some of those memories, tales and legends of yesterday into the songs, tunes, paintings, writings and art works of today and
tomorrow.”  Simon Armitage

“For a village so small, Marsden’s influence on our national identity is nothing short of colossal. It’s a place that has always punched well above its weight. Tenterhooks is here to celebrate that past and look to its future. The desire to do this in such a collaborative way, was naturally driven by a collective desire to set the foundation for events and artistic endeavours that are inclusive for all community members. Connection and inclusion which encompasses the whole community are our core values and we are proud that we are continuing to help to contribute to this, not only to making our relatively rural location a more animated and vibrant place to live, but also a more compelling place to visit and to work in, which in turn strengthens and grows the community further.”  Marsden Mechanic’s Development Manager, Jonny Kelly

FESTIVAL OF THE GIRL AWARDS 2024

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INSPIRE HER FUTURE

·        A pioneering, awards-driven campaign launched by Festival of The Girl for young girls to celebrate each other and aspire to be future leaders

·        Builds girls’ self-esteem and confidence to use their voices

·        A great summer holiday activity for girls to nominate a special girl in their lives

The team behind the ground-breaking Festival of the Girl have launched their inaugural awards-driven campaign which will shine a light on the importance of girls supporting girls and celebrating each other’s achievements.

Why are these awards important, why do we still need to be building girls’ self-esteem and confidence, and why do we want to encourage girls to use their voices and support one another?

1.        In a time when society still reinforce gender stereotypes and female rivalry (think Swift vs Beyonce narratives), when ‘mean girl’ behaviour is normalised with responses like ‘girls will be girls’, these awards aim to help build self-esteem and confidence with the next generation of girls

2.        Just 15% of UK girls believe politicians act in their best interest with almost half of UK girls (47%) having lost trust in them over the last three years. Now with the largest (40%) proportion of female MPs in the UK government and a potential female US president, we need to change this trajectory and see girls celebrating each other, and the leadership and change girls and women can create

3.        In the lead up to the 2024 General Election 20% of women didn’t feel inspired to vote or believe they had a voice in the election, so we need to build the agency and confidence in our future women voters

The awards campaign invites girls aged 7-11, with the help of their parents and carers, to nominate a special girl in their life for one of the following awards:

INSPIRING GIRL 2024 AWARD

Who has inspired you recently? Who do you know that did something brave?
Maybe they stood up for someone else, maybe they’ve had to overcome something really difficult, or maybe they’ve simply worked incredibly hard at something and it has felt inspiring to you.

LOYALTY AND FRIENDSHIP 2024 AWARD

Who is your very best friend, or has shown amazing friendship to someone else you know?
Maybe they’ve spent loads of time helping their friends, or supporting them in some way. Or they might have been thoughtful about how to cheer someone up when they’ve been having a hard time.



LEADER AND CHANGEMAKER 2024 AWARD

Who has made a difference in your school or community? Who has created a change that really mattered?
Maybe they campaigned for something they believed in, and got the decision makers to really listen. Maybe they got lots of other people interested in a problem they wanted to solve and you all worked together on it, joining in with their idea and making things happen. 


The Awards Ceremony, sponsored by V2 Studios, will take place at the Festival of The Girl 2024 on Saturday 5th October at the Business Design Centre, Islington, London. With an incredible panel of judges, beautiful awards and exciting presenters, it will be a truly inspiring event.

http://www.festivalofthegirl.com/

Top Tips for busting Perimenopause

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Top Tips for busting Perimenopause: from co-Founder of Valerie, Wizz Selvey.

These are some simple everyday tips that should be prioritised when you’re dealing with symptoms that sound like they might be Perimenopause. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may still be necessary for some people, but following these foundational strategies can help support added HRT, or help you on your way to leveling out a regular day to day.

1. Feel Strong
Overtraining, HIIT and excessive cardio will drain your natural energy levels, and deplete hormones, so focus on supporting your skeleton through resistance training. Pushing your body too hard will only increase cortisol production, which in turn can weaken your immune system. So focus on training smart, not hard.

In mid-life we should prioritise building strong bones and muscle around the joints, because of the hormonal fluctuations and the impact that has on bone health. A full-body gym (or home) strength routine that focuses on choosing a goal and slowly increasing the intensity over time gives all of your muscles a chance to rest and build strength; providing balance, flexibility, and support to your body and joints. Body-weight training is a good place to start, and there are some great beginner routines on YouTube or social media to follow along to at home.

2. Feed Your Body Right
Stay as close to ‘whole and natural’ as possible and have a full range of nutrients. Think about groups of protein, fat, and carbs. As our bodies age and hormones begin to fluctuate, our nutritional needs change too. The most common nutrient that women lack in mid-life is protein. Generally speaking, we should have at least 1 gram per 1lb of body weight just to manage our normal nutritional health. These protein requirements change with hormone fluctuations, infections, and other types of stress, depending on the person.

Understanding the role and basic principles of nutrition is never more important than as we transition through to menopause. Our bodies need fats (cholesterol) and protein (amino acids) to make hormones. It is important to make sure that whatever diet you follow, you are nurturing yourself with the correct amount of protein, fat, and carbohydrate. To manage Oestrogen really effectively it’s crucial to eat these as whole foods and both insoluble and soluble fibres; supporting a healthy gut microbiome.

3. Manage Everyday Stress
We all know it’s harder to cope, think and function at your best when you’re stressed, but this is amplified by fluctuating hormones. Try meditating (apps I recommend are: Calm, Headspace, Healthy Minds Program, and Smiling Mind – the last two are free.), focusing on diaphragmatic breathing, or some grounding practices like forest bathing, to bring you back down to earth. Or mitigate the stress before it starts to mount by keeping your environment toxin and clutter-free, phone-free time, trying some novel activities, and socially connecting in person.

Another way to decrease stress can be limiting your alcohol intake; because it is a stressor to the brain and body — and its impact is worse in Perimenopause stages. If drinking is on the cards, make sure you stay optimally hydrated with foods/electrolytes and take supplements to help support your liver and brain function (suggestions below).

4. Recharge Your Body and Mind
Sleep’s one of the hardest things to maintain when mid-life gets to you, but it is really important for your the brain and body to maintain a regular circadian rhythm by going to bed and getting up at the same time each day. As we age our Lymphatic System starts to slow, which is one of the reasons we don’t feel refreshed from sleep. One way to manually stimulate this is through diaphragmatic breathing.

Diaphragmatic breathing gets the Lymphatic system moving, but also works to relax the nervous system. Do your best to breathe through your nose in bed, as this will decrease the chances of sleep apnea, which can limit diaphragmatic breathing and create stress in the nervous system. These things act as a gateway for jaw clenching or grinding, that can further impede Lymphatic flow. 

Wearable devices can really kickstart your sleep routine, such as Oura, Sensate, and Whoop. Manual lymphatic techniques such as Body Brushing are also great ways to help improve your overall circulation. I always have a Herbal Tea before bed, and Pukka make a really great Nighttime Tea that I recommend to everyone.

5. Supplements
I know, supplements are a minefield, with endless options! As this field is not very well regulated, it’s really important to know what you’re looking for, read the labels and stay aware. 

Here are some key points to look out for when choosing a high-quality supplement:

What are the therapeutic effects? Find this by checking the dosing amount of ingredients in the bottle. 

What fillers and other potentially toxic compounds are included? These can diminish the benefit of the supplement. What else, besides what you need is in there?
What is included in the supplement to help manage your symptoms? Nutrients such as Magnesium, Vitamin D, Omega fatty acids, and Adaptogens are very important to have and perhaps best in a blend. 

Lastly, what’s the delivery method? (pills, liquids, sublingual etc.) The right delivery method is going to help the nutrients get to work as quickly as possible. Liposomal formulations (like Valerie’s liposomal product) really are the best to ensure quick absorption and assimilation or bioavailability.

EMILY IN PARIS Premium Ready-To-Drink Kir Royal Cocktail Launches in the UK

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Quintessential Brands have launched a delicious and stylish premium kir royale ready-to-drink cocktail, Chamère, in collaboration with EMILY IN PARIS. Created by executive producer Darren Star. Season 4 part two is on Netflix now.

Chamère 250ml can – RRP £4 per can. Available to order in a case of 12 x 250ml cans for £48 from neatandshaken.com

Chamère 200ml bottle – RRP £7.95 per 200ml bottle. Available to order in a case of 6 x 200ml bottles for £47.70 from neatandshaken.com

During Season 3 of EMILY IN PARIS, Emily tasted and loved the French cocktail kir royale and pitched it as an RTD to her agency clients. Consumers picked up on the idea of a ready-to-drink version of the French cocktail and the kir royale became one of the most searched for cocktails online, with consumers suggesting this could be the new Spritz, becoming an overnight viral sensation. 

The new Chamère ready-to-drink cocktail is 10.5% ABV and is available in cans and bottles in the UK.The 250ml can and the 20cl bottles feature the words ‘kir royal’ which is the French spelling of kir royale. The packaging was developed in collaboration with Paramount and Sunhouse Creative agency.

@chamere_emilyinpariswww.chamere-emilyinparis.com

Café Solo – A Taste Of Elegance – by Award-Winning Author Dr Kathleen Thompson

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With torrential rain battering my window and temperatures sinking fast, my thoughts are switching from chilled Chablis in the sun to something warmer and cosier. The usual suspects are great but I’m seriously excited to discover Café Solo. The clue’s in the name, meaning Just Coffee in Spanish.

As an amateur coffee aficionada I’m thrilled that this UK company majors on the quality of the cold brew coffee in this fabulous liquor. Consisting of 100% arabica beans and 80 plus speciality grade, it’s directly traded from Brazil and Colombia. You can also buy the coffee as a concentrate – cleverly combining high quality coffee with convenience.

Café Solo liqueur combines this fabulous coffee with premium vodka and natural sugar – that’s it. It’s described as a bold, rich flavour profile with hints of dark fruit acidity, chocolate, and vanilla notes, culminating in a subtle sweet finish. I can’t better this description and I can confirm it’s totally delicious. Warm, powerful, comforting, perfect for a cold dark winter evening, which will be with us only too soon. With an ABV of 25% the vodka packs a punch and the delicate sweetness blends perfectly with the rich coffee flavour. And this isn’t just my opinion, Café Solo Original achieved both Gold and Country Winner at the World Liqueur Awards 2024.

However there’s more. Café Solo recently launched their ready-to-drink Espresso Martini in a can. Usually I’m wary of canned alcoholic combinations but Café Solo Espresso Martini is pure joy. Made using Café Solo Original Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur, Premium British Vodka and SOLO Coffee Espresso Strength Cold Brew, you simply shake the chilled black-and-white can and pour, then enjoy a bar-quality 15% ABV martini – shaken not stirred and beautifully frothy. Such a clever idea.

So if you’re as excited as I am about these great new bevvies, give them a try.

Café Solo Original Coffee Liqueur RRP: From around £30 for a 70cl bottle. ABV: 25%. Available from Amazon and Drink Supermarket.

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

Frank’s Closet at Wilton’s Music Hall, London reviewed by Paul Vates ‘…it is an example of crowd-pleasing theatre’

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It’s always a pleasure to visit Wilton’s Music Hall. Both decaying and salubrious in equal measure, the place reeks of history.

And none more so, when, early on in Frank’s Closet, Marie Lloyd springs out and sings The Boys of London Town – appearing on the same stage she actually performed on many years ago. This time it was Luke Farrugia as the Diva, in his first incarnation portraying Lloyd.

Luke Farrugia – the Diva – as Marie Lloyd

The eponymous Frank, played by Andy Moss, is about to get married to the man of his dreams, but he’s getting cold feet. First, he must rid himself of some iconic costumes from his life. These costumes represent the gay icons of his youth: Julie Andrews, Judy Garland, Agnetha Fältskog and more. Each character pops up, all played by the fantastic Farrugia. Frank mentally battles them all, more than ably assisted by his very own Greek Chorus of brilliant burlesque dancers – Patrick Cook, Taylor Watson-Braithwaite, Olivia McBride and Daniel Walford are the Gaiety Girls and they not only dance and sing, they look superb, too!

As the story unfolds, the songs – all by Stuart Wood – create vibes of other musicals. I bounced from Little Shop of Horrors, to Betty Blue Eyes, to Copacabana, to Avenue Q. The live band creates a genuine Music Hall feel and keeps the whole thing rolling along. The costumes are stunning, the set compact and neat.

Andy Moss – as Frank – with his Gaiety Girls

Director Sasha Regan has created a tightly-knit company who perform to exceptional standards. Andy Moss almost gets lost in the crowd as the colours and vibrancy of the show threaten to overwhelm him. My one question, though, is The Sailor… why is the character there? Has he got anything to do with Frank’s story?

Frank’s Closet has been around for quite a few years. It doesn’t appear to have found a natural home where it can settle down and become the cult it so promises to be. After all, it is an example of crowd-pleasing quality theatre.

Paul Vates.

Presented by Labdon MacLeod Barnes Union Theatre

Director Sasha Regan Choreographer Jo McShane Writer / Composer Stuart Wood

Images Mark Senior.

Musical Director Anto Buckley Designer Catherine Phelps Head of Wardrobe David Furnell

Running Time 2 hours – with an interval Dates until Saturday 14th September 2024 Ages 13+

Check with the theatre for show times Venue Wilton’s Music Hall, Graces Alley, London E1 8JB

Instagram @franksclosetshow X @frankscloset24

Box Office Tickets are available from: https://www.wiltons.org.uk

A Pharmacist’s Insights : Just how ‘clean’ are your daily supplements?

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According to Mintel, “Over two thirds of UK consumers take vitamins and supplements”. In 2023, the global market in vitamin and mineral supplements was valued at almost 135 billion, and is predicted to grow by just shy of 10% each year between now and 2030.

With the awareness of ultra processed foods now coming to the forefront, there is a growing awareness that not all ‘healthy supplements’ are as beneficial as they appear. Many supplements contain various additives such as fillers, glues, binders, preservatives, and colourants, which can impact their overall health benefits. It’s important to read between the lines of ‘ultra-processed’ supplements like liquid collagen and tablet formulations, to ensure you’re receiving what you pay for.

We’ve become pretty good at spotting unnecessary additives in our food and beauty products, but when it comes to checking how ‘clean’ our supplements are, do we really know what’s good for us? Pharmacist and Co-Founder of INGENIOUS collagen & wellness supplements, Pupinder S. Ghatora, lists the top 5 ingredients to avoid below.

Just how clean are your supplements?

1. Magnesium stearate

“Magnesium stearate is simply a ‘flow agent’ that is used to facilitate smooth processing in factory machinery and within the body. It serves no health benefits and will simply cause the supplement to pass through you without being absorbed. Brands often use it to bulk out supplements so that they can reduce the amount of the more expensive active compound. In large amounts it can even negatively affect the gut microbes in your digestive system.”

2. Carrageenan

“At first glance, you’d think carrageenan, AKA Sea Moss, is beneficial for health as it’s derived from seaweed. It’s often found in gummies and liquid supplements as a gelling agent, stabiliser and thickener. However, research indicates it can have adverse effects on digestion, triggering inflammation, ulceration, and elevating blood sugar levels while exacerbating glucose intolerance. Similarly, vegetable gums like Guar and Xanthan exhibit similar properties and can also lead to digestive disturbances.”

 3. Titanium dioxide

“You’ll often see titanium dioxide listed on ingredient lists, also identified as E171 on labels. Worryingly, research has suggested that the ingredient may have a carcinogenic effect. Although the European Commission has banned its use as a food additive, this does not extend to the UK or US, so it’s still widely used as a white pigment and colour enhancer in supplements.”

4. Talc

“Talc has garnered attention recently due to concerns about contamination in industrial-grade talc, which can include impurities and even asbestos. Surprisingly, it’s used as both an anti-caking agent and a tablet brightener, mostly present in tablet supplements.”

 5. Sweeteners and sugars

“Sorbitol, mannitol, maltitol, and sucralose are all artificial sweeteners known to cause gut issues when overconsumed. They’re not limited to fizzy drinks and ‘diet’ snacks but are also present in gummies, drinks, and powders. Sucrose, dextrose, and glucose syrup add sweetness to gummy or liquid supplements and, as we know, increased sugar intake has been linked to obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Aspartame is another artificial sweetener found in many supplements and so called ‘diet’ food and drinks. Although some studies confirm it is safe, there are new emerging studies showing that it can have a negative impact on our body’s oxidant/antioxidant balance, which has a knock effect on many of the body’s functions.”

Pupinder S. Ghatora, Co-Founder of INGENIOUS

Pupinder S Ghatora, pharmacist and co-founder of INGENIOUS has paved the way forward in the collagen industry since 2014. Unlike its counterparts laden with bulking agents, artificial flavourings, and preservatives to mask the bitter taste, INGENIOUS patented capsules stand tall with their commitment to purity. Formulated by a team boasting over 25 years of combined scientific expertise, these capsules contain only pure active ingredients, no fillers, flow agents, preservatives, or flavourings. This means that when taking INGENIOUS supplements, you’re not wasting your money or endangering your health with chemicals and ultra-processed.