| "I was literally jumping
around the room, as if it was my own news. I was so thrilled."
Since then, Leigh, who runs Newry-based Dharma Health,
has tallied four pregnancies among seven clients in a matter of months.
The women who come to her for treatment may have what
is termed 'unexplained infertility'.
Some may have had a previous successful pregnancy only
to experience difficulties conceiving a second time. And yet others may
have already gone down the IVF route without success.
With as many as one in three couples having problems
conceiving, according to some studies, problems with fertility is an
area that undoubtedly plays physical and emotional havoc with people's
lives. Dharma Health ("the name comes from Indian Sanskrit for 'to do
the best you possibly can in everything you do',") approaches this from
a pre-conceptual care starting point.
"As society has evolved, many women are deciding to
have children later in life," says Leigh who, at 34, has yet to start a
family. "But when I do decide the time is right, I'll be taking my own
advice!
"After the age of 35, the chances of conceiving are
halved. About 30% of female infertility is due to failure to ovulate.
Ovulation is controlled by the same finely orchestrated release of
hormones that controls the menstrual cycle."
Hormone imbalance, a malfunctioning hypothalmus, a
malfunctioning pituitary gland or irregular hormone levels in polycystic
ovarian syndrome can be factors.
And, of course, it takes two to conceive. "Ideally,
both partners should start to condition their bodies for optimum health
at least four months immediately preceeding any attempt to conceive,"
she says. " It takes four months for an egg to mature and approximately
four months for sperm to form.
"What we eat, drink and how we live our lives, before
and after we conceive, determines the health of our children into
adulthood. More and more people are interested in conscious conception
and pregnancy.
"There is quite a demand for a more rounded approach
to what is, for many, the most important experience of their lives.
Obviously, I'm not going to be able to help everybody. But, here, those
thinking of having a baby or experiencing fertility challenges can also
find more holistic and natural approaches often neglected by mainstream
health professionals. By working alongside orthodox medicine, the two
complement each other brilliantly, giving the client the best and full
range of treatments available."
Leigh's own start in life was truly extraordinary — a
medical miracle. "My mother, having had both her ovaries removed,
conceived me six to eight months after her operation, which started my
fascination with the human body," she explains matter-of-factly.
As a teenager she gravitated towards the ancient
knowledge of plants and their healing properties. "When I was 15 I
followed instructions from a book to make an ointment using marigold
flowers for treating sprains and strains. My brother used it on an
injured ankle, it worked and I was immediately hooked on the medicinal
wonder of plants."
Self-taught at that stage, though she felt she had
found her niche, there was nowhere to go to learn more. Instead she
followed a more conventional education route, ending up with a
successful, though ultimately unsatisfying, career as a PA until she saw
an opportunity to change career direction and follow her desire to heal.
She took six months out from her day job to work in a
busy health shop in Lisburn, studied for a diploma course in holistic
therapy part-time over three years at Newry Technical College and is a
member of the Federation of Holistic Therapists.
"My ultimate aim was to learn enough to set up my own
complementary clinic specialising in women's reproductive health. After
four years of planning, researching and training, I launched Dharma
Health last year and our reputation and client base is growing, often
through word-of-mouth recommendation."
Treatments include aromatherapy, acupressure,
lymphatic drainage, massage, naturopathy, nutritional therapy,
reflexology and Western herbal medicine, using A Vogel products.
Conditions addressed range from endometriosis; to
fibroids; irregular, heavy, painful or absent periods; pre-menstrual
syndrome (PMS); the menopause; fatigue and stress.
To anyone inclined to dismiss the treatments as New
Age, Leigh counters that they are ancient and long-tested.
"Herbal medicine works with your body to encourage
self-healing and is an effective alternative to more orthodox medicine
which may cause harmful side-effects."
Leigh believes such complementary therapies are
becoming much more widely adopted alongside mainstream medicine. So who
might benefit?
"Women who suffer each month; those preparing to get
their bodies into tip-top condition for conceiving; professional women
who have concentrated on their careers, delaying having children until
their 30s and 40s; women heading for the menopause; new mothers and
anyone who wishes to de-stress, detoxify and re-energise." |
