New treatment for Long Sightedness

An informative look at recent Holistic Fitness News

DR KAPLAN'S WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

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A new treatment will soon be available for sufferers of long sightedness or hypermetropia. This is the condition that affects most middle-aged people and has up until now, been treated more or less exclusively by 'reading glasses'. Its most common presenting symptom is when you have to hold a book further away from you in order to read the print. Now, a technique called conductive radioplasty uses radio waves to alter the shape of the cornea in order to focus visual images on to the retina. It takes about 5 minutes and costs about £1500. Yes, it sounds like a nice money-spinner for ophthalmic surgeons. My advice to all you long-sighted young things out there: Opthalmic surgeons also get long-sighted which they really do need to correct. When these guys have statistically abandoned glasses in favour of the procedure for themselves, then it's time for you to consider it! Assuming of course that you want an alternative to reading glasses (which are available in very trendy and affordable designs these days).

How mobile phones really damage your health

Regular readers of this newsletter will be familiar with my favourite piece of advice on how to stay healthy: Drive carefully! In a few months time motorists will start to get fined for holding a mobile phone to an ear while driving. This will encourage people to buy hands-free car kits in the name of safety and fine avoidance.

Unfortunately science is starting to show that any telephone conversation while driving is dangerous. The men in white coats tested 130 motorists over 40 miles of simulated driving. Their findings proved what many have suspected for some time. If you are involved in a telephone conversation with someone not in the car (who cannot see that you need to concentrate more at certain times) you drive less safely. The drivers using phones had slower reactions and more accidents as well as a kind of tunnel vision in which their peripheral vision was relatively impaired. So my advice is don't use any phone while driving.

Chocolate is good for you! (in moderation of course)

There was some good news this week for chocoholics. The men in white coats at the University of California (where else?) have shown that cocoa contains flavan-3-ols a substance that decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease. It is not a case of the more the better though. The only way to get benefit out of this breakthrough is to eat small amounts of black chocolate. Otherwise you will flirt with obesity, one of the major risk factors of coronary heart disease (the others being: smoking, lack of exercise, high cholesterol, family history of the problem high blood pressure and in my opinion stress).

Homeopathy on Trial (the latest)

Last week I wrote about a study published in the Journal of the Royal Society on the effectiveness of perhaps the most famous homeopathic remedy of all, ARNICA. The study apparently showed that the Arnica was of little use in helping bruising and pain after wrist surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome. This week the homeopathic academic community hit back, criticizing the methodology of the trial and actually pointing out that the results published show some efficacy of Arnica 6, which is the Arnica sold at most chemists and health food shops.

Homeopathic Tip of the Week

With Arnica in the news, let's stay with the theme of the use of homeopathic remedies for various injuries.

Rhus tox: a useful remedy for strains and sprains. When a ligament or tendon is tender after overuse and there is not much bruising, this remedy can be very useful. It is especially indicated when the area aches in cold and damp weather.

Ruta: a similar remedy to Rhus tox, also with an excellent reputation in strains and sprains which may be worse in cold, damp weather. It's even useful for 'eye strain' from excessive reading of staring at monitors. It works here because the 'strain' of eyestrain is in the extrinsic muscles of the eye. Each eye has 6 little muscles that focus your vision by making the lens of the eye the right shape.

Calendula cream: a time honoured homeopathic treatment for grazes. I've seen it work very well here. It's also been used for other skin conditions but I've not been impressed with it's effects on anything except grazes where it is excellent. Worth keeping a tube in the medicine cabinet for the inevitable grazes your children will suffer.

Combudoron Cream: the best homeopathic cream that I've used for burns and scalds. Highly recommended. It lasts for many years so once again, an essential for the medicine cabinet.

Dr Kaplan's personal website is: www.drkaplan.co.uk and his practice website is www.140harleystreet.co.uk and he can be contacted on (020) 7487 3416