NAPS AGM - PMS through the years

Due to unforeseen and unexpected circumstances NAPS Annual General Meeting scheduled for September 17 was postponed.
The meeting will now take place from 6pm - 9pm on December 15 at the Kings Fund, 11 - 13 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0AN. During the meeting, NAPS Chairman, Nick Panay, will give The Katherina Dalton Memorial Lecture - 'PMS through the years'. We urge you to come along and join us. This is your opportunity to participate in discussions, vote on issues and become truly involved in the charity. We are very much looking forward to seeing you there. We would be grateful if you could contact us at AGM@pms.org.uk so that we know to expect you.

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HERBAL HELP FOR PMS

Traditionally, medical herbalists have used Black Cohosh to relieve hot flushes in menopausal women, and St John's Wort to relieve psychological symptoms such as mood swings and mild depression. What is less well known is that these same herbs were used traditionally to relieve a variety of PMS type symptoms including stomach cramps and low mood.

Premenstrual stomach cramps coupled with emotional symptoms such as unpredictable mood swings and irritability can make daily life very uncomfortable and embarrassing for many women experiencing PMS.

It is thought that through its oestrogen-like effect, Black Cohosh may help suppress luteinizing hormones, increased levels of which may also increase the severity of PMS symptoms. Whilst much research has shown that St John's Wort acts in a similar way to conventional anti-depressant drugs which modulate levels of serotonin in the brain to help improve mood.

MedicHerb Black Cohosh & St John's Wort contains dried, concentrated standardised extract of Black Cohosh, equivalent to 42mg of dried herb and standardised dried extract 300mg of St John's Wort. It is available in Boots or by mail order on 0845 456 7040 and costs £14.99 for 30 tablets. For further information, please call the customer care line on 01628 488487 or click onto www.medicherb.co.uk

IMPORTANT
St John's Wort can interact with some prescribed medicines, including the
Contraceptive pill. If you are taking any medicines prescribed by your doctor, particularly
digoxin, warfarin, ciclosporin, theophylline or medicines for epilepsy, migraine, depression or
HIV, you should not take St. John's Wort. If in doubt, please contact NAPS 0870 7772178.

 

CLICK HERE TO JOIN NAPS

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PMS Awareness Week

NAPS annual PMS Awareness Week, beginning September 12, kicked off to a lively start with coverage on GMTV with Lorraine Kelly, alongside regional radio interviews with new NAPS media volunteer Tracey Gladman, from East Grinstead.

 

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BBC recommends NAPS

The BBC on-line has devoted a full page on its website to NAPS, which you can see on:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/awareness_campaigns/sep_pms.shtml

 

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Dr Hilary Jones praises NAPS

On Breakfast TV, Dr Hilary Jones was particularly supportive of NAPS as he gave individual clinical guidance to women calling him on the WebCam broadcast following his discussion about PMS with NAPS volunteer Tracey Gladman and GMTV presenter, Lorraine Kelly.
He said of NAPS: "I would recommend anyone to contact the National Association for Premenstrual Syndrome, which can offer excellent advice and information to all sufferers."

 

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Leading relationship adviser joins NAPS clinical team

Susan Quilliam, relationship psychologist and agony aunt, joins the eminent clinical panel that provides voluntary advice via the Ask the Experts facility on NAPS' website.
NAPS Christine Baker says: "Susan is unsurpassed in her ability to provide practical relationship advice drawn from her unique breadth of experience."

www.susanquilliam.com

 

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Summer Special

Keep a look out for the special summer offer from Escape.
Cedar Health is sending out two free samples of the PMS busting carbohydrate drink and a money off coupon for the full sized product, redeemable at Holland and Barrett Stores. This offer will be open to every reader of the NAPS E-bulletin. To receive your voucher, just click on this link:
http://pms.org.uk/onceamonth/escapenewsletter01092005.htm

 

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Picture the moment

Kira, the herbal supplements company specialising in products for women, is asking readers to draw or paint their feelings about PMS or the Menopause on an A4 sheet. The pictures will then be used in an online exhibition, and may also be featured in the press! As an extra incentive, each picture received will trigger a donation to NAPS.
http://pms.org.uk/onceamonth/lichtwer06092005.htm

If you would like to take part, please send your drawing by the end of September to:

Rachael Oliveck
Fuel PR
3 The Cloisters
8 Battersea Park Road
London SW8 4BG

Please include your name, address, telephone number and date of birth on the back, as well as whether you have drawn the menopause or PMS. We look forward to seeing as many of your pictures as possible!

For more information on Kira please visit www.lichtwer.co.uk

 

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Pollen extract reduces PMS misery

Extended trial shows beneficial effects on mood-related symptoms
A new study presented at the 6th Congress of the European Society of Gynaecology in Helsinki, Finland , shows that Femal, the pollen-based standardised supplement, can significantly reduce mood-related symptoms, such as irritability, short fuse, anger and hostility by half or more after two to four months of treatment.

 

CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE

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Study reveals Femal benefits for menopause

A new study published in *Climacteric has revealed that Femal, a pollen-based non-hormonal menopause remedy, can provide long-term relief from menopausal symptoms without the unwanted side effects of hormonal treatment.

 

CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE

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Clinical Conference -Outline programme

The next NAPS annual clinical conference will take place on Friday 17 February 2006 at the Derby City General Hospital. It will be hosted by national PMS research specialist, Dr Carrie Sadler, and chaired by Mr Nicholas Panay, Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital London. Topics for discussion will include menstrual and mental health, managing menopause, complementary treatments and therapies, dietary control of PMS and menopause and reproductive health in the workplace. Read on for further details.

9.00 - 9.30	Registration and coffee
Session 1	Chairman Mr Nicholas Panay
9.30 - 9.40	Chairman's welcome and introduction - Mr Nicholas Pana
9.40 - 10.20	Managing the menopause - Gilly Andrews menopause/PMS nurse specialist
10.20 - 11.00	Social inclusion and women's health - Dr Carrie Sadler Derbyshire GP and national PMS research specialist
11.00 - 11.30	Coffee
Session 2	Chairman Christopher Ryan NAPS Chief Executive
11.30 - 12.10	Complementary treatment and therapies - any questions? Dr Claudine Domoney Specialist Registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, South Thames Region
12.10 - 12.50	Dietary control of PMS and menopause - Gaynor Bussell NAPS Dietary Advisor
Session 3	Chairman Dr Carrie Sadler
13.15 - 14.00	PMS through the years - Mr Nicholas Panay Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital London
14.00 - 14.40	Women's mental health - Ingrid Whitton Community Psychiatrist, Leeds NHS Trust
14.40 - 15.20	Reproductive health in the workplace - Julia Hammond specialist research nurse, Southampton
15.20 - 16.00	Sex at the end of the day - Dr Annie Hawkins Specialist registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in North West Thames

 

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Menstrual health in the work place - workshop at Kent college 29 October 2006

Kent based Hadlow College, www.hadlow.ac.uk, a training centre in the heart of Kent, has recently been awarded European Social Funding with the intention of developing a free training and personal development project for women in part-time employment in Kent.

Hadlow College will be holding a 'Women's Learning Day on 29 October 2005. NAPS will be attending and running a workshop - 'Menstrual Health in the Work Place'. If you live in Kent, are unemployed or in part-time employment please contact Carol Thorpe (contact details at the end of this article) - the day is FREE.

Together with six other Kent based organisations the college is preparing to progress aims to support 300 women with free training to help career prospects, free assistance with with starting training, free career guidance, free childcare whilst training and access to a Bursary fund to pay for more expensive or longer term programmes.

As an employer, do you have women who work part-time for you? Would they and your business benefit from training? This project has been created to support the success and productivity of Kent Businesses as well as to help women progress in the workplace.
Training opportunities include basic food hygiene, emergency first aid, NVQ administration and customer service, health and safety, HACCP qualification for food and fresh produce businesses and many more courses.

For further details please contact either Carol Thorpe on 01732 853168 or at Carol.Thorpe@hadlow.ac.uk

 

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Congratulations!

Our warmest congratulations go to our Website and e-bulletin designer, Ric and his wife Ani on the birth of their baby daughter Matilda in July. Pictures at www.redeyemedia.co.uk/matilda