O'Ryan Holistic Clinic

03/04/2025

I've been teaching reiki since 2008, but what even is reiki?
I was introduced to this healing technique by various friends and colleagues, but indismissed it as hocus pocus for years. Finally when I was living in Peru I heard there was a medical doctor and psychiatrist teaching an intro to reiki, and went along. My mind was blown. I signed up to a class in 2005, then another, then back in the UK I studied with Ann Cap to become a master-teacher. In 2013 I trained in angelic reiki over six months to bring in a more smooth, easily assimilated healing experience.
Come learn for yourself in Glasgow this spring.

12/05/2022

Researchers from The Children's Hospital Westmead in Sydney, Australia released a study that confirmed not only how infants die from sudden infant death syndrome, but why.

17/11/2021

Solving the Mystery of Who Gets Long Covid
An interview with Michelle Harkins, MD.

While some patients recover quickly after their Covid-19 diagnosis, others do not.

A baffling mix of diverse symptoms can linger long after diagnosis, causing significant qualify of life issues in these patients.

In this interview, Harkins, researcher and professor at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, describes her upcoming study on who is most likely to get long Covid, as well as efforts to develop effective prevention and treatment strategies.

Harkins and her team are a part of a huge NIH initiative that includes 30 different research institutions, 20,000 Covid-19 survivors, and a total of $450 million in funding. Listen now.

https://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/journal/2021-11/solving-mystery-who-gets-long-covid

05/09/2021

What’s on my mind is foods that help dementia symptoms. Any brain changes can really be slowed or stalled with good nutrition and supplementation. Here are some great examples from dementia.org
“Hippocrates once said "Our food should be our medicine. Our medicine should be our food." In the case of dementia, a diet of nutrient-rich foods can improve patient outcomes and quality of life.

Advanced dementia patients may forget to eat, and eventually don't feel hunger as a result of depression, medication side effects and cognitive decline. A healthy and balanced diet, however, can make a big difference in dementia's regression. The nutrients found in certain foods not only feed your body, they feed your brain.

Leafy Greens
Veggies such as spinach, collard and mustard greens, kale, arugula and Swiss chard are all great sources of folate, or Vitamin B9, which is shown to improve cognition in older adults. Folate helps ward off depression (a common dementia side-affect) by contributing to serotonin levels. The Vitamin E in leafy green vegetables has also shown positive affects on the brain.

Cruciferous Vegetables
Broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy, cabbage and brussel sprouts help retain memory. They contain carotenoids and folate, which lowers levels of homocysteine, an amino acid linked with cognitive impairment.

Beans
Legumes are another great source of folate, as well as iron, magnesium and potassium. They also contain choline, a B vitamin that boosts acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter critical for brain function.

Berries And Cherries
All varieties of berries contain anthocyanin, a phytochemical that protects your brain from damage caused by free radicals, inflammation and radiation. Blueberries are packed with the most antioxidants, as well as plentiful amounts of Vitamin C and E.

Dark Chocolate
Flavanols, the antioxidant in cocoa powder, help improve blood flow to the brain. The darker the chocolate, the better for you, since you'll be getting more flavanols and less added sugar.

Fish
A study found that people 65 and over who ate three or more weekly servings of omega-3 rich fish had a nearly 26 percent lower risk of having brain lesions that can cause dementia, compared to those who never eat fish. The high levels of the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) keep the brain in tip-top shape.

Nuts
A small handful of nuts packs a ton of nutrients, including omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin E, folate, Vitamin B6 and magnesium. These nutrients help protect against age-related memory loss, as well as work to improve mood. All varieties of nuts, including peanuts, cashews, hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds and pecans, offer these benefits.

Seeds
Seeds provide lots of Vitamin E, a vitamin associated with lower rates of agre-related cognitive decline. Choline, a compound found in sunflower seeds, helps improve brain function. The zinc present in pumpkin seeds improves memory and cognitive function, while the tryptophan fights depression. Flaxseeds are excellent alternative to fish, since they're packed with memory-boosting omega-3s.

Spices
Certain spices not only add flavor to your favorite dishes, but also add antioxidants and memory-boosting compounds. The mere scent of cinnamon, for instance, enhances cognitive processing. In a study, participants who consumed sage performed better on memory tests. And curry lovers can rejoice; Curcumin, a main ingredient in turmeric, has been shown to break up brain plaque and reduce inflammation that can cause memory problems.

Best resource for dementia help, diagnosis, and treatment, from leading researchers and therapists. Dementia.org is the online resource trusted by researchers and clinical providers

22/08/2021

17/08/2021

Sometimes the latest health craze isn’t the thing to do

Copper vessels are known to lend drinking water extra power to fight infections amongst other things. However, copper water doesn’t suit everyone.

13/08/2021

Whatever your views on the COVID virus and the vaccine, this article sets out clearly the danger of thinking you know everything about the situation and how we’re treating each other in these strange times https://charleseisenstein.substack.com/p/mob-morality-and-the-unvaxxed?fbclid=IwAR1Y6qARIB9Uv1G_Ud_h-cYIYwNddm9k0hAJi-0xEd1tJ9j5b5xUjlby0ns

(A standalone Part 3 of a series. Part 1, Part 2) Propaganda must facilitate the displacement of aggression by specifying the targets for hatred.– Joseph Goebbels We would like to think that modern societies like ours have outgrown barbaric customs like human sacrifice. Sure, we still engage in sc...

11/07/2021

“Tea allowed the British working class to endure long shifts, brutal working conditions and more or less constant hunger; the caffeine helped quiet the hunger pangs, and the sugar in it became a crucial source of calories. (From a strictly nutritional standpoint, workers would have been better off sticking with beer.) The caffeine in tea helped create a new kind of worker, one better adapted to the rule of the machine. It is difficult to imagine an Industrial Revolution without it.”

The long read: Caffeine makes us more energetic, efficient and faster. But we have become so dependent that we need it just to get to our baseline

20/12/2019

Researchers have created a compound, that when tested in mice, was able to promote the reconstruction of the myelin sheath surrounding neuronal axons. These findings could pave the way to a new treatment for combating demyelinating conditions such as multiple sclerosis.

16/12/2019

Part 2!