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Wellcome Institute London unveils its 2008 programme of events

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London: An analysis of 26 skeletons selected from the Museum of London’s collection of 17,000; textile designs based on patterns found in x-ray crystallography, not seen since the 1951 Festival of Britain; a newly commissioned film by Marion Coutts and an exhibition about the thoughts and wishes of the dying – are some of the forthcoming special exhibitions at Wellcome Collection during 2008. [full listings below].

2008 will end with a major exhibition exploring the complex relationship between War & Medicine and the ways in which mankind’s desire to repair and heal has tried to keep pace with its capacity to wound and kill. The exhibition will look back as far as the Crimean War and will be brought up to date by specially commissioned artwork addressing the problems of military medicine in the conflict in Afghanistan. This will be the second part of a two-phase collaboration with the Deutsches Hygiene-Museum in Dresden, the first of which, Sleeping & Dreaming, opened on 28 November and closes on 9 March 2008.

Wellcome Collection www.wellcomecollection.orgthe new £30m public venue from the Wellcome Trust opened in June 2007. The building’s three galleries combine medicine, life and art to provide insight into the human condition. Exhibitions, both temporary and permanent, are supported through a public events programme that brings together experts from the arts, science and humanities to further explore human wellbeing. Wellcome Collection has been visited by over 100,000 people during its first five months of opening.

WELLCOME COLLECTION SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS 2008:
Full information on each temporary exhibition will be posted at www.wellcomecollection.orgthroughout 2008. Entry to all exhibitions is free.

Sleeping & Dreaming (28 November 2007 – 10 March 2008)

Sleeping & Dreaming, the second major temporary exhibition at Wellcome Collection, explores sleep – the mysterious state we inhabit for a third of our lives. 250 objects across five major themes enable visitors to explore the biomedical and neurological processes that take place in the sleeping body and the social and cultural areas of our lives to which sleep and dreams are linked. The exhibition is the first of a two-part collaboration with the Deutsches Hygiene-Museum in Dresden. Exhibits range from artworks by Goya, Catherine Yass, Jane Gifford and Laura Ford, to an interview with a victim of sleep-deprivation interrogation; from a vehicle designed to provide homeless people with a mobile place to sleep to an extraordinary range of alarm clocks and a collection of traditional lullabies from around the world. Sleeping & Dreaming public events are detailed below.

Life Before Death (8 April – 18 May 2008)

The German photographer Walther Schels and journalist Beate Lakotta spent a year talking with terminally ill patients in hospices across Germany. They photographed 24 consenting patients shortly before and just after they died. The resultant portraits are shown side-by-side, accompanied by a short text which describes the patient’s experience of the situation in which they find themselves – having to come to terms with the imminent end to their lives.

Atoms to Patterns (24 April – 10 August 2008)

This exhibition brings to light an extraordinary collection of vibrant textile designs from the early 1950s, most of which have been lying unseen in the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Science Museum for over 50 years. For the 1951 Festival of Britain a group of designers collaborated with some of the most distinguished scientists of the period to devise a range of fabrics and furnishings based on patterns revealed by x-ray crystallography – a means of visualizing the crystal structure of both organic and inorganic materials.

Marion Coutts (30 May – 29 June 2008)

The artist Marion Coutts will present a new film, commissioned by Wellcome Collection, which will use objects from the collections of Henry Wellcome and
from the Science Museum playfully to explore the workings of memory.

Skeletons (22 July – 28 September 2008)

The Museum of London has approximately 17,000 skeletons in its care, all removed for their preservation, from building sites under different parts of London. This exhibition will present 26 of these skeletons along with all the information about their health and likely social circumstances that can be gleaned from the location in which they were found and from a detailed analysis of their bones. The skeletons featured include some dating back to Roman times and many which reveal a great deal about the health and social conditions of the period in which they lived..

War & Medicine (November 2008 – March 2009)

The third major special exhibition at Wellcome Collection and, following Sleeping & Dreaming, the second of two exhibitions devised in collaboration with the Deutsches Hygiene-Museum, Dresden. War & Medicine will assess the impact and influence that warfare and medicine have had on one another. It looks at the way mankind’s desire to repair and heal has tried to keep pace with its capacity to maim and kill, meeting sometimes with success and sometimes with failure. As with Sleeping & Dreaming, this exhibition will include the perspectives of artists, writers and filmmakers as well as those of medical scientists and social historians.

WELLCOME COLLECTION PERMANENT GALLERIES
T
wo of Wellcome Collection’s three galleries are permanent. These are:

Medicine Man (350 m2): This exhibition contains more than 500 strange and beautiful artefacts from Sir Henry Wellcome’s original collection, presented in a rich American walnut-panelled gallery, centred on a large ‘Wunderkammer’ cabinet.

Medicine Now (350 m2): The Medicine Now exhibition explores contemporary medical topics through the eyes of scientists, artists and popular culture in a bright contemporary environment.

SLEEPING & DREAMING PUBLIC EVENTS
All temporary exhibitions are supported by a series of public events that enable people to discover more about the subjects they cover. Below are the remaining public events for Sleeping & Dreaming that bring together experts from science, the arts and humanities to explore this twilight world. Events are free unless otherwise stated. All tickets must be booked in advance from < a href="http://www.wellcomecollection.org">www.wellcomecollection.org

Late-night Film Festival
Friday 25 January 2008, 19.00–23.00
Explore Wellcome Collection by night and see rare footage from the Wellcome Library collection screened alongside classic feature films and quirky shorts exploring sleeping and dreaming. Galleries, café and bookshop will be open throughout. A full screening programme will be available in December at www.wellcomecollection.org

Catherine Yass: Artist in Conversation and premiere of new film work
Thursday 7 February 2008, 19.00–20.30

The first opportunity of seeing a new work by leading British artist Catherine Yass that documents her waking moments and dream recall. Catherine will be joined in conversation by Lux Gallery Curator, Lucy Reynolds, and will discuss her interests in sleeping and dreaming.

Speaker: Catherine Yass, artist featured in exhibition

Facilitator: Lucy Reynolds, Curator, Lux

Sleep Talk

A unique symposium exploring insomnia and sleeplessness
Friday 22 February 2008, 19.00–21.00
Saturday 23 February 2008, 10.30–17.00
Tickets: £30 / £20 concessions

This symposium will explore insomnia and sleeplessness through science, psychology, history, sociology and art. The event will begin with a special performance of Bach’s Goldberg Variations by innovative classical music group, Manning Cammerata. When Johann Sebastian Bach first composed this music, it was used as a curative for Count von Kaiserling’s insomnia.

Speakers Include
Ann Coxon, Assistant Curator, Tate Modern,
Kenton Kroker, Science and Technology Studies, York University, Toronto
Eluned Sumners Bremner, Department of Women’s Studies, University of Auckland
Kevin Morgan, Director of Clinical Sleep Research Unit, Loughborough University
Chris Idzikowski, Director, Edinburgh Sleep Centre
Russell Foster, Professor of Circadian Neuroscience, University of Oxford

An End To Feeling Shattered? If you could live without sleep, would you?
Friday 28 February 2008, 19.00–20.30
Drugs that enable you to stay awake 24 hours a day have been produced but would you want them? Should they be made available? What would be the impact on your body, your relationships and your life? Join a panel of outspoken speakers to debate whether drugs are the answer to 21st-centruy life.

Speakers
Simon Williams, Lecturer in Sociology, University of Warwick
Danielle Turner, Neuroscience coordinator, University of Cambridge
John Harris, Professor of Bioethics, University of Manchester

Facilitator
Toby Murcott, Science writer and presenter

What is the Wellcome Collection?

Wellcome Collection is a new £30 million visitor attraction from the Wellcome Trust that opened on 21 June 2007. Wellcome Collection is a world first. It combines three contemporary galleries together with the world-famous Wellcome Library, public events forum, café, bookshop, conference centre and members’ club, to provide visitors with radical insight into the human condition.

Wellcome Collection builds on the vision, legacy and personal collection of Wellcome Trust founder Sir Henry Wellcome and is part of the Wellcome Trust’s mission to foster understanding and promote research to improve human and animal health. The building is centred around three substantial galleries totalling 1350m2 and the world famous Wellcome Library.

About the Wellcome Trust: www.wellcometrust.ac.uk

The Wellcome Trust is the largest charity in the UK and the second largest medical research charity in the world. It funds innovative biomedical research, in the UK and internationally, spending around £500 million each year to support the brightest scientists with the best ideas. The Wellcome Trust supports public debate about biomedical research and its impact on health and wellbeing. Wellcome Trust funding has supported a number of major successes, including:

*sequencing the human genome
*establishing the UK Biobank
*development of the antimalarial drug artemisinin
*pioneering cognitive behavioural therapies for psychological disorders
*building the Wellcome Wing at the Science Museum
* the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium, the largest ever genetic study of common diseases such as diabetes, coronary heart disease and bipolar disorder

The Wellcome Trust is a charity registered in England, no. 210183

Dr Daniel Serrano – Los Angeles 2008

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Los Angeles (28 March 2008): An Argentine doctor who served prison time for giving illegal anti-wrinkle injections to wealthy and celebrity clients has been arrested and could face deportation, immigration officials said Thursday.

Daniel Tomas Fuente Serrano, who was jailed after pleading guilty in 2006 to conspiracy, smuggling and use of unapproved drugs, could forfeit his permanent residency in the United States because of the crimes, Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Virginia Kice said.

“If you’re here as a guest of this country, and you’re convicted of certain types of crime, you may lose that privilege,” she said.

Serrano finished his prison sentence earlier this month, but authorities could not arrest him until Wednesday because his conviction was under seal, Kice said.

He was taken into custody at his Beverly Hills home.

No phone listing was available for Serrano. It was unclear if he had retained an attorney.

Kice did now know when his first immigration hearing would be held.

Serrano previously received an 18-month prison sentence, which was later reduced by three months.

Prosecutors said he gave the illegal injections at various places, including parties where as many as 30 wealthy clients sipped cocktails and were injected with silicone smuggled into the U.S.

Lionel Richie, his ex-wife, Diane, and Shawn King, the wife of CNN talk-show host Larry King were other clients, according to court papers.

Serrano wasn’t licensed to practice in this country, prosecutors said.

He was accused of charging thousands of dollars for injections of substances consistent with industrial grade silicone used to lubricate auto parts, as well as medical grade silicone, which is used for some eye surgeries but is not approved as wrinkle filler, according to court papers.

Some of Serrano’s clients developed problems after the injections, court papers state.

Clients claimed they were unaware that Serrano was not licensed in California.

Serrano’s arrest by immigration officials was initially reported by www.TMZ.com

Blue Spa launches new concierge service for red carpet clients

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Los Angeles: Blue Medi Beauty Spa, Los Angeles’ premiere medical spa facility, has launched the “The Beauty Concierge,” an exclusive by appointment only service. “The Beauty Concierge” was created to fulfill clients’ desire for a personal, customized experience that addresses their specific aesthetic vision.

Clients fill out a questionnaire for Blue’s proprietary Tip2Toe beauty program and
answer a series of questions about their aesthetic concerns, current skin care and beauty regimen, what treatments they are interested in, and their overall beauty goals.

The Beauty Concierge provides an assessment and suggests the best treatment options based on the client’s expectations and goals, along with a three, six or 12 month plan. The Beauty Concierge is available to help monitor the results and make all the appointments, whether they are in house or at the client’s home. The result is akin to having a beauty coach to help navigate the ocean of choices in aesthetic treatments, products and experts.

Blue Medi Beauty Spa is a new concept in wellness combining beauty, science and
service. Treatments and procedures include Botox, Laser Hair Removal, Dermal Fillers (Restylane, Juvéderm and Perlane), Titan Face + Body Lift, IPL FotoFacial, Laser Genesis, Endermologie Cellulite Reduction, Facials, Skin Therapies and Massage. All medi beauty procedures are performed by certified medical professionals under the supervision of Blue’s medical director Dr Daniel Yamini Blue uses only medical grade equipment and medically formulated products.

Named “One of the Top 20 Spas in the Nation” by Launch Pad Magazine, Blue mixes the innovation of medical beauty with the luxury of a spa, providing a unique spa experience that delivers results. Blue’s futuristic interior design and one-step-ahead medical treatments havegarnered major media coverage including Allure, Angeleno, InStyle, Lucky, InTouch Weekly, Good Day LA, Access Hollywood and CBS Evening News.

Blue Medi Beauty Spa is located at 14622 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, Calif. 91403.
For appointments call + 1 818-783-3600. For more information visit www.bluespa.com

Columbia Beach Resort, Pissori Beach, Paphos, Cyprus

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10% of hotel suits and 15% of spa treatments Both offers exclude Easter and must be taken by 30 June 2008, subject to availability.

Email us: makeovermailes@elixirnews.com to obtain your promotional code and contact phone number.

The five star Columbia Beach Resort, one of the most beautiful in the Mediterranean is offering Elixir Makeover Miles privilege card holders discounts on direct hotel and spa bookings.

The Columbia Beach Resort is surrounded by lush gardens and is an all-suite hotel. It has one of the best outdoor pools on the island of Cyprus and one of the best spas. It also has a state-of-the-art gym and several choices of restaurant.

The Resort is offering a 10% discount on rooms and 15% on spa treatments – this must be booked directly with the resort.

Cyprus is one of the sunniest and friendlest islands in the Mediterranean. As well as sun, sand and sea there is spectacular mountain scenary and archeological sites. The people of Cyprus are friendly and the cuisine centres around the freshes of home-grown ingredients.

The Resort
This exclusive all suite resort ambles gently upward from the sparkling waters of the bay following the natural incline of the landscape so that most suites have a spectacular sea view and many also look out over the 80m lagoon-style swimming pool, which is the central feature guarded by towering palm trees.

All that is best in Cypriot architecture and local materials has been used. Sloping roofs and graceful arches are predominant, as is the use of natural wood and stone, and the specially reclaimed terracotta roof tiles give the whole project a nicely aged and traditional look. All suites have shuttered windows, heavy wooden doors and large covered balconies.

Paved pathways, shaded by bougainvillaea and olive trees, meander throughout the resort around the traditional taverna and ouzeri, past the quaint little Chapel of All Saints and on down to the beach.

Spa & Well-being

The COLUMBIA SPA offers numerous therapies for relaxation and revitalising – various types of massage, body wraps, detoxification treatments, skin cleansing and toning – all performed by the highly qualified Spa staff with products from Molton Brown and Phytomer.

Treatment rooms surround a central area containing sauna & cold plunge pool, steam bath and Jacuzzi.

To find out more about this resort: www.columbia-hotels.com

Browlift

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A forehead lift is a good option for those who have dropping brows, deep lines on the forehead and between the eyes. This operation pulls the eyebrows into a slightly higher position, opening up the eye area. The muscles that cause the frown between the brows may also be removed.

There are two techniques currently in use – the traditional coronal brow lift which uses a genral or twilight anaesthetic and different types of endoscopic brow lifts.

In the coronal brow lift the incision is made in the natural hairline, running from ear to ear across the top of the head.

With an endoscophic lift the muscles and underlying tissues are released and the eyebrows may also be lifted.

As with a facelift you will be instructed to keep your head elevated and apply cold compresses to reduce swelling and bruising. Swelling and bruising may also affect the cheeks and eyes. You should not take part in any physical activity such as jogging and other sports for several weeks.

Blood test for breast cancer only months away

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Oslo: A Norwegian company has developed a blood test for breast cancer which could be on the market in a few months.

The life sciences company DiaGenic ASA is hoping to get Europe-wide approval by the end of next year.

The test uses a technique called ‘gene expression analysis’ to find a signature or pattern that distinguishes healthy blood from diseased blood or tissue. It can detect early tumors.

In the UK private healthcare provider Opaldia will offer it to private patients, while NHS patients may benefit if doctors believe it has advantages over existing screening methods and is costeffective.

Currently mammograms are mostly used for women at high risk of breast cancer in their 40s. But these can detect lumps only when they reached a size of between 5mm (0.19in) and 10mm (0.39in), and the density of breast tissue in younger women often makes it difficult to interpret the X-rays.

UK Government reviews health guidelines for alcohol

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London: ONE in four women in the UK is drinking more than is recommended following a Government revision of the alcohol unit system.

The new guidelines have been issued because many drinks and particularly wine are higher now in alcohol than at the time the unit rules were created.

According to the UK Government’s Office of National Statistics, a glass of wine which is officially classified as one unit should now be counted as two.

The Government has highlighted the problem with wine because it forms, on average, 40% of a women’s intake of alcohol. This compares to less than 20 percent for a man.

It is estimated that about 14 percent of women, aged between 14 and retirement age, are drinking too many units because they are calculating using the old method. Using the new method this dramatically increased to 25 per cent.

Manyof those drinking too much as high income earners and professionals. An average senior female manager in a large company is now drinking 15.2 units of alcohol a week.

Among men, a third over the age of 25 are now thought to be drinking more than Health Department recommended safe levels of 21 units a week.

The new rules replace those created in 1978 which have been outdated by bars serving ever larger glasses of wine with ever higher alcohol levels.

Pub wine glasses used to hold 125 millilitres, but now many serve 175 or 250 are common. In addition, thirty years ago many wines only had nine per cent alcohol. Today’s many wines are 14 per cent and even higher. Many beers and lagers have also increased in strength in recent years.

Thread veins – can you get rid of them after pregnancy?

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London: Dr Angus Gordon, Medical Director of the Katherine Corbett Clinics, discusses treatments for unsightly thread veins, which can arise during pregnancy.

Becoming and being pregnant is a life changing experience. The nine months that follow, are supposed to be filled with anticipation and excitement – then reality sets in.

No one properly explains to you the morning sickness, the cramps, the mood swings, and the vast and complex array of changes your body goes through. Coupled with all of this, is the frustration of trying to feel attractive, while coming to terms with how you are no longer able to slide into your favourite pair of jeans.

Then there is the unsightly condition of thread veins, something which is becoming more common in young women during pregnancy. Thread veins are small red or purple capillaries close to the surface of the skin which are harmless but women do find them unpleasant. Thread veins tend to be hereditary and expectant women can develop them due to high levels of oestrogen. Another cause may be due to obesity — a growing problem in the UK and western societies in general. Thread veins are extremely common and often affect the face and legs, but can be found on other parts of the body too.

The removal of thread veins is classed as a cosmetic treatment, and because of this it is not a procedure available through the UK’s government health service, the NHS. Many expectant mothers develop them during their pregnancy, and become anxious as they believe there is no proper treatment for the condition. However, one of London’s leading and longest established aesthetic clinics, specialising in surgically non-invasive treatments, the Katherine Corbett Clinics (KCC), has been providing safe and effective treatments for over 50 years.

KCC’s Medical Director, Dr Angus Gordon says: “I fully understand the anxiety and psychological impact thread veins can cause. Thread veins affects women of all ages – in some cases they can be as young as 18, so I think they can be reassured that treatment is available that will reduce and improve the unsightly appearance of the veins”.

Dr Gordon explains: “Our clinic specialise in such treatments for women who have recently given birth. Our sclerotherapy treatment programmes have proved to be more effective than laser alternatives, which can have unpleasant side effects. Initially, a patient may require two or three sessions spread over a few months and after that an annual check up. However, as all patients are different in some instances a patient can go up to five years before they need further treatment”.

The Katherine Corbett Clinic in the centre of the West End at South Molton Streetis home to a dedicated team of experienced and professionally qualified nurses, who work closely with Dr Gordon, and are committed to ensuring that patient safety always comes first. A free consultation will always result in a realistic assessment of whether sclerotherapy will provide the results a particular patient is hoping for.

“It is an important philosophy of our approach to ensure that patients are not given false expectations about the outcomes for the treatment, or indeed, whether it is appropriate. Sometimes it is not and we will advise the patient, but in where we believe sclerotherapy will help and it is used patients are delighted with the results,” concluded Dr Gordon.

More information and advice about thread veins is available on the KCC’s website at www.kcclinics.co.uk

Scientists discover more about Alzheimer’s

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Los Angeles: Scientists from UCLA have recently pinpointed a possible physical origin of Alzheimer’s disease. The amyloid-beta protein has long been known to clump in the brain and be involved in the progression of the disease. The UCLA team identified a loop in the protein that is likely to enable amyloid-beta’s adhesion process. This discovery suggests new ways to treat the disorder’s cause, rather than just the symptoms.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of late-life dementia. It is estimated to affect 24 million people worldwide, and half of the people over 85 may suffer from it. This fatal disorder is characterized by a decline in the individuals’ memory and in their ability to think and function independently. Current drugs treat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s but not the underlying cause of the disease.

A protein called the amyloid-beta protein (A-beta) is thought to be a key cause of AD. A-beta proteins apparently stick together to form toxic deposits in the brain. Self-associations of A-beta can form various clump structures called “amyloid plaques”. Recent studies suggest that these plaques have potent neurotoxic activities that may kill brain cells.

UCLA scientists, headed by David Teplow, Professor of Neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, have recently identified a loop in the A-beta protein that is likely to be responsible for the adhesion process. The UCLA team employed an interdisciplinary research strategy. Among other methods, they have revealed morphologic, conformational, and aggregation features of synthetic A-beta in a tube (‘in vitro’), examined the effects of various A-beta assemblies on the physiology of cultured neuronal cell lines (‘in vivo’) and used computerized methods (‘in silico’) to produce models of A-beta structures and to study its conformational dynamics and assembly. The researchers thus discovered that gene mutations in A-beta increase the flexibility of the protein’s loop, enabling it to join easily with loops of other A-beta proteins to form clumps. The loop is also located in the region of the protein that regulates the formation of A-beta and its amount.

Understanding how the toxic A-beta clumps form in the brain could aid the design of new drugs that both block the production of A-beta and prevent it from clumping. Such drugs could be used to prevent or treat the disease. Furthermore, the A-beta assemblies are now known to share properties with other proteins linked to an increasing number of human diseases of aging. This revelation suggests the existence of a common pathogenetic pathway. Therefore, research conducted on AD is likely to advance efforts to understand and treat other disorders.

TFOT previously covered a couple of other AD related researches. One of them led to the discovery of a protein complex named Ab*56 (amyloid beta star 56), which is thought to be a dominant factor in the early development of AD, while the other one developed a method to decrease neuron loss rates.

Full details here:
Getting out of the Loop of Alzheimer’s Disease

Toothplace – City of London

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25% discount on Luxury High Gloss Diamond PolishNormal cost of this would be £80.
Toothplace, 18-20 Cullum Street, London EC3M 7JJ
Tel: 0207 929 1462
www.toothplace.co.uk

Toothplace is a refreshing new idea. It’s the first place you can walk in and have your teeth cleaned and polished by a professional dental hygienist whenever you like. If you don’t have much time to spare, Toothplace can fit you in during your lunch break or even when you’re passing by for the convenient way to make you smile!

Acupuncture can relieve Xmas stress

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London: *One in five Britons suffers from stress during the festive season. Tiredness, lack of exercise, an overload of people, alcohol, food, spending and over-excited children can all contribute to increasing levels of stress.

Beverly Dickins, acupuncturist and British Acupuncture Council member said the pressures at this time of year can have a very real impact on our well-being.

“From shopper’s backache and Christmas dinner panic to December dehydration and over-spending insomnia, the festive season is a stressful time for many of us,” she said.

“The most common symptom of stress is a breakdown in your immune system, leaving you susceptible to colds and illness. Eating fattening foods, taking less exercise and stressful situations between family members can really take its toll on your health.”

“Holistic therapies such as acupuncture can help you cope with these demands and enable you to stay on top of things.”

Stress, anger, or any intense emotion acts like a traffic jam, blocking the free flow of energy in the body. One of the many symptoms people who are very stressed experience is upper back, shoulder and neck pain. This is because stress causes the ‘snarling up’ of the energy passing through channels in these areas causing pain, tension and stiffness – often resulting in headaches as well.

Through acupuncture, these energy blockages can be addressed. Acupuncture can help energy flow smoothly, and alleviate not only the symptoms of stress and anxiety, but the underlying stress and anxiety itself.

In addition, acupuncture improves circulation of blood throughout the body. The calming nature of acupuncture also helps decrease heart rate, lowers blood pressure and relaxes the muscles.

Beverley said as the winter days become shorter and colder and with most of us trying to cram in last minute work, many people will start to feel tired and rundown as the festive season approaches.

“In over 25 years of practice I have been continually impressed at the breadth and power of acupuncture as it has something for everyone and can really help in situations like this,” she said.

“Acupuncture can assist with the following symptoms:

Feeling unwell and tired – acupuncture can elevate your mood and return good energy levels to your body

Feeling stressed – acupuncture can calm you down and you can learn how to stimulate acupressure points to assist with ongoing anxiety

Hangovers and eating to excess- acupuncture’s capacity to cleanse the organs can help restore wellbeing after diet and alcohol excess.”

To find your nearest qualified British Acupuncture Council practitioner please visit < ahref="http://www.acupuncture.org.uk">www.acupuncture.org.uk or call T: + 44 (0)20 8735 0400

About the British Acupuncture Council
The British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) has a membership of over 2,800 professionally qualified acupuncturists and is the UK’s largest professional body for the practice of acupuncture.

BAcC members practise a traditional, holistic style of acupuncture diagnosis and treatment based on a system developed and refined over 2,000 years. To achieve BAcC membership, practitioners must first undertake extensive training in traditional acupuncture (minimum three years full-time or part-time equivalent), which includes physiology, anatomy and other biomedical sciences appropriate to the practice of acupuncture.

*Research courtesy of www.mind.org.uk

The LookGoodNaked Margarita from New York’s bar Nacional 27

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New York: Partida Tequila and Nacional 27 Manager/Mixologist Adam Seger has a better solution to help you get a little healthy while you imbibe this season: LookBetterNaked!

This holiday season, Partida has teamed up with Seger to create a new margarita crafted from healthy ingredients for a guilt-free indulgence that fuels the body while it delights the taste buds.

The LookBetterNaked margarita is made from all-natural ingredients, including Partida Reposado tequila, organic acai, organic agave nectar, rosemary, egg white and fresh squeezed lime juice. Using Sambozan Pure Organic Acai and Partida Organic Agave Nectar fills the margarita with antioxidants, amino acids, dietary fiber, iron, calcium, cholesterol-reducing fructans and Vitamins A and C. The rosemary is rich in vitamin E, preventing cancer and skin damage. An egg white provides a lean source of protein, while the fresh lime juice prevents heart disease and gives an extra dose of Vitamin C. The LookBetterNaked margarita is this year’s answer to those countless toasts to a holiday season!

How to make the LOOKBETTERNAKED Margarita by Adam R. Seger CCP Manager/Mixologist, Nacional 27

COCKTAIL:

1.5 Ounces Partida Estate Reposado Tequila

1/2 Ounce Sambazon Pure Organic Acai

3/4 Ounces Partida Organic Agave Nectar

4″ Sprig Rosemary, Top Inch Reserved for a Garnish

1/2 Ounce Organic Egg White

1 Lime Fresh Squeezed

RIM:

Equal Parts Organic Salt with 50 Trace Minerals and Fresh Cracked Organic Green Peppercorns

Remove Rosemary Leaves from the Woody Stem. Muddle in a 16 Ounce Pint Glass until Aromatic. Add Liquid Ingredients.

Rim a Chilled 10 Ounce Cocktail Glass with Salt and Pepper.

Shake Liquid Ingredients Vigorously Until Metal Shaker is Frosted.

Strain into Chilled, Rimmed Glass and Float a 1″ Rosemary Sprig on top.

And drink naked!

Get fresh for the Party Season – win a complete oral hygiene kit worth £70

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Win an Oraclens Mouth Freshening kit containing natural ingredients worth £70!

The kit includes: Mouthwash; Toothpaste; Citrodent Oral Spray;Powerfloss; Toothbrush; Pocket Set AND Handy ‘finger-held’ sized interdental brushes; Tongue cleaner and a Floss mounted toothpick R.R.P £70

Simply email us at readeroffer@elixirnews.com with your name and address, stating Oraclens in the email heading. Competition closes on 15 December 2007. No cash equivalent is being offered and the Editor’s decision is final.

ABOUT ORALCLENS – THE COMPLETELY NATURAL MOUTHWASH

For the health conscious amongst us, Oraldent, the oral care specialist, has created the very first completely natural range of mouthwash and toothpaste, OralClens Natural. Effectively fighting bacteria and tasting great, OralClens Natural offers you the healthy way to ensure optimum oral hygiene and lasting fresh breath all day – the completely natural way.

With the average woman absorbing up to five pounds of chemicals every year through the use of cosmetic products, the time has come for consumers to look to more natural products that will not compromise our health. Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS), which originally was used as an industrial degreasant and floor cleaner, is commonly found in almost all toothpastes acting as a foaming agent. SLS has been proven as a skin irritant, but it can also cause recurrent mouth ulcers in 1 in 4 of the population. OralClens Natural toothpaste contains no SLS and is completely free from all other synthetic products.

Sodium Benzoate is a synthetic preservative commonly found in fizzy drinks, but can also be a key ingredient in mouthwashes, even though recent studies suggest a link to DNA damage. Once again, OralClens Natural mouthwash contains no sodium benzoate; it is also alcohol free and so is kinder and gentler on your mouth and gums and suitable for all the family.

Oralclens Natural mouthwash and toothpaste is instead based on Citroxx, the powerful organic anti-bacterial agent already used widely in the food preparation industry. Citroxx is a clinically-proven natural anti-bacterial containing bioflavinoids enhanced with fruit acids extracted from the pith of oranges.

OralClens Natural comes in two invigorating flavours; Mint, for an instant burst of cleanliness and Citrus, for a fruitier feeling.

Richard Thomas, Managing Director of Oraldent says: “OralClens Natural truly is the only completely natural range of toothpaste and mouthwash proven in laboratory tests to kills 99.9% of oral pathogens which cause bad breath and plaque. People can rest assured that they are using a completely natural product that will clean their mouth and leave breath fresh all day long without harming the body in any way”.

· The Oral hygiene market is estimated to be worth £758 million in 2007

· The fastest growing sector of the market is mouthwashes and ancillary including dental floss and inter-dental brushes.

· Cosmetic mouthwashes used to be associated with breath freshening but consumers are now using them for oral health benefits

Source: Mintel 2007

For more information please call 01480 862080 or visit www.oraldent.co.uk

Estheva Spa – Singapore

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10% discount on all treatments
Web: www.estheva.com

This spa is the ultimate in luxurious pampering. Voted the top day spa in “The Best of Singapore” consecutively 2006 and 2007 by readers of Singapore Tatler.

Here you getting the very best and worth every penny but with ELIXIR MAKEOVER MILES it won’t hurt you bank balance nearly as much!

As Singapore’s first and most exclusive Esthetics Spa, ESTHEVA has created a luxury haven in a modern and spacious environment in the heart of famous Orchard Road for you to enjoy your beauty, massage and spa therapies.

This is where the air is filled with the scent of delicate and aromatic essential oils and fragrance of fresh blossoms, and the mood is serene with restful music.

It also specialises in non-invasive anti-ageing treatments for the face and body. These include the new, high-performance microdermabrasion performed by experienced therapists with the latest technology from Europe in Singapore. Who needs a surgical facial lifts when you can enjoy luxurious peels for natural long-term results, which are visible even after the first session?

The secret of these programs lies in the patented technology and techniques used.

These treatments include the Ageless Beautiful Face which is a series of non-invasive, non-surgical beauty secret techniques. This botox-free treatment brings unprecedented visible instant results for ageing skin. The effects are so dramatic; your friends may think you’ve had a face-lift!

First, a light microdermabrasion, with the Estheva signature AgeLes.Peel© followed by a state-of-the art transdermal delivery, DEP.Therapy to enhance the absorption of your choice of collagen, elastine and Vitamins A,C and E to impart a fresh and ageless glow. ESTHEVA is the first spa in Asia to offer this proven highly effective unique 2-in-1 treatment.

Then there is the Beautiful Flawlessly Firm Body treatment which lasts two hours and fifteen minutes.

CelluGie delivers readily visible results for a great-looking body with glowing skin, reduced cellulite and enhanced contour especially around the hips.

This wonderful treatment begins with a luxurious Seaweed Scrub, rich nutrients gently exfoliate your skin & stimulate blood circulation.

The patented Gyra-Massage, the secret of the programme, is then be skillfully applied to the contours your body. Oxygen and nutrients to your body increase, and toxins are ejected while active cellular exchanges work from within to the exterior. A Seaweed Wrap is then applied to further oxygenate the body. The connective tissues of the skin are revitalised, restoring elasticity. Firm and sensual curves are thus shaped.

To complete the highly effective firming and lifting, the program finishes with an Aromatic Body Rub that will leave you totally renewed with an irresistible scent.

For A Beautiful Younger-Looking Face you must try this three step anti-ageing treatment which lasts two hours.

CelluVie begins with thorough Cleansing, Exfoliation and Oxygenation. Using the advanced Gyra-Massage, the face is then given an invigorating three-dimensional “uptoning” massage.

This accelerates the skin’s cellular and fluid exchanges to promote tissue rejuvenation. The facial muscles get a unique stimulation improving blood circulation, while fluids and toxins are quickly flushed out. Eye bags, existing and emerging wrinkles, acne scars and stretch marks are also reduced.

For optimum results, a Regenerating Mask completes the therapy, leaving a beautiful, firm, radiant and smooth complexion.

Karl Johnson – Personal Trainer – specialist in increasing lean body mass – UK (Birmingham)

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Discount – to be advised

Karl Johnson is a personal trainer and fat loss advisor based in Birmingham specialising in fat loss and female corrective exercise.
He has gained great fresults with his clients both in corrective exercise and particularly fat loss,He has also written articles for womens magazines.

Website www.karljohnsonpersonaltraining.co.uk

The Clinic of Cybernetic Medicine Moscow

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20 % discount on all treatments
Clinic of Cybernetic Medicine
T: +7 495 101 5030
Email: For information in English email Sono Wood suno@cybermed.ru
Web: www.cybermed.ru

“We treat the whole person – not just their illnesses” – Alexander Avshalumov, Founder and Director

This clinic specialises in the treatment – investigating the body as a whole – of many illnesses including:

• Diabetes
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Neuroses and depression
• Hepatitis including “C”
• Breast disease and endometriosis
• Erectile disfunction
• Migraine, dizziness and headaches of uncertain origin
• Psoriasis and eczema
• Multiple sclerosis
• Heart disease
• Hypertension
• Arthritis and stiff joint problems
• Spinal disc problems – back pain
• Acute and chronic lung disease
• Kidney disease
• Male and female genital disorders
• Thyroid gland disorders
• Abdominal and duodental ulcers
• Disorders of the pancreas and intestines
• Selected oncology
• Chronic fatigue syndrome such as ME
• Obesity
• Complex symptoms of ill-health without clear diagnostics

In its approach to illness the clinic looks at the whole body and organ function in a series of comprehensive tests. These include “The Gold Standard” which includes 15 different types of diagnositics. Most of them are non-invasive: all are totally safe. The whole process takes only three to five hours – the result: a unique protrait of a person’s state of health, from the micro the macro, from the level of cellular metabolism and each individual body organ, to the working of the body as a coordinated, well-managed entity. The process is unique to this Moscow clinic.

The Gold Standard leads to an individually-designed programme of treatment which treats the body as a whole, restoring proper management and fuction.

The results to date are clear. A wide range of illnesses have ben successfully treated and chronic conditions and symptoms may be quickly and safely alleviated in our out-patients clinic in Moscow.

The Clinic of Cybernetic Medicine uses the latest US and Russian equipment including cardio vision equipment, cellular metabolism diagnostics, radio thermometry and magnetic tornado therapy amongst others.

International Kurotel Longevity Centre & Spa – Brazil

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Kurotel Centro de Longevidade e Spa
Rua Nações Unidas, 533
CEP: 95670-000
Gramado – RS – Brasil
T: + 55 54 3295 9393
+ 55 54 3421 9393
Email: reservas@kurotel.com.br
Web: www.kurotel.com.br

The Kurotel specialises in a number of treatments including anti-ageing, weightloss, stress and quitting smoking.

For example: Kur Method was specially designed to improve the quality of life – which means having the correct weight for your height, emotional balance, managing your stress, enjoying yourself; therefore finding balance and getting closer to the person you want to be. Kur Method focuses on self-awareness, predictive medicine and on the development of a life style with healthy habits, so as you feel you are having the best time of your life.

The Riding Company – exclusive riding. yoga, spa, skiing holidays

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10% discount on holidays (not flights as these must be booked seperately) – offer lasts until June 2008

Wonderful holidays to refresh the body, mind and soul in awe-inspiring locations. For beginners and experienced riders, and even those who don’t want to ride! You can chose to ride by the sea, in the mountains and combine this experience with other activities such as spas (including Auyverdic treatments), yoga, skiing, golf, paragliding and rafting – just to name but a few of the activities!

Why not experience the Spanish Riding School in Vienna or riding on a beach in Adalucia? Experience Bulgaria or ride beautiful white Lipizzanas or stay in a Medieval Castle…

Look on the web site and you won’t be able to resist one of these holidays:
Web: www.theridingcompany.com

UK Office
The Riding Company
La Rocque View
La Mont de Gouray
Jersey
JE3 6ET

T: + 44 (0) 207 846 0033
Mobile: 07808 864747

Fax:01534 857519

Cap City Cosmetic, Cannon Street, London

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Discount is three laser hair removal treatments for the price of two (cost – to be advised)
CAP City Cosmetic
123 Cannon Street
London EC4N 5AY
T: + 44 (0)20 7929 0123
Email: info@capcitycosmetics.com
Website: www.capcitycosmetic.com

A clinic that understanding the needs of the busy career professional. When you visit us at the clinic, you can be sure to find friendly, helpful and understanding staff who will discuss any concerns you may have prior to your treatment. They will be able to recommend the very best solution for superb results, and will talk you through the procedures, answering questions and offering professional advice throughout.

Cap City Cosmetic works in close partnership with its sister Clinic, Cap City Dental, where patients are treated to the highest levels of care, understanding and quality. Cap City Dental’s resident Cosmetic Dentist Dr. George Druttman achieves incredible results in the field of Aesthetic Dentistry and is on hand to offer honest, professional advice along with superior dental work.

Cap City Cosmetic is ideally situated at a stone’s throw from Cannon Street

Harley Street Hair Clinic, Harley Street, London

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10% discount on eyebrow restoration
Harley Street Hair Clinic
29 Harley Street
London W1G 9QR
T: 0800 007 6010
Website: www.hshairclinic.co.uk

The Harley Street Hair Clinic is one of the only hair loss clinic in the United Kingdom that specialises in FT (follicular transfer). It is internationally renown in hair restoration for men and women including eyebrow restoration.

The FT Technique evolved from the pioneering work done by Dr Woods, Dr Inaba and Dr Rassman with FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) that involves extracting follicles one by one from the donor area to be then replanted into a patient’s balding area.

The potential of this technique has enabled the natural reconstruction of balding areas with specialised follicle extraction and placement techniques. Our custom built micro-surgical tools ensure each follicular group of hair is precisely removed one by one with no extra tissue or damage to the surrounding skin. The hairs are then placed and grouped in natural orientation with a combination of artistry and the skill of talented and experienced Doctors.

The clinic also offers advice and consultation on all forms of hair loss and treatments available to help maintain as well as restore hair. All consultations are free, educational and without any obligation of any kind.

Consultations are only given by trained medical professionals and our aim is to advise on the possibilities of modern hair restoration technology as well as increasing awareness of the amazing results that can be achieved enabling patients freedom from hair loss concerns

The clinic started as a bespoke service for patients around the world seeking the finest Hair restoration and results. We have a strict policy of treating one patient per day unlike many other clinics as our focus is on patient care and providing the highest quality and care in the industry today. There are also clinics in Paris, Vegas, Arizona, and Dubai; and plans for 2008 to have others in China and India.

The clinic is passionate about solving the emotional and physical problems patients encounter as a result of hair loss and invests a high proportion of its revenue in research programmes internationally to further develop procedures including future genetic treatments for hair loss.

The role of diet in breast cancer – public debate in London in 2008

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London: A public debate on the role of diet and breast cancer is being held in London by the Vegetarian and Vegan Foundation and top scientist Professor Jane Plant On Wednesday 27 February 2008, the Vegetarian and Vegan Foundation is launching a groundbreaking campaign, One in Nine, to raise awareness about how breast cancer cases are rising (now affecting one in nine women) and the major the role of diet in this disease.

Speakers include Professor Jane Plant, Juliet Gellatley and Dr Justine Butler.
Venue: Lecture Theatre 1, New Hunt’s House, Guy’s Campus, off Great Maze Pond and Newcomen Street, London SE1, 6.45pm for 7.15pm start.
£5.00 Admits One

Nearest tube and mainline station: London Bridge.
For further information or press passes for the talk, contact: Dr Justine Butler or Juliet Gellatley on 0117 970 5190.

More information below:

Professor Jane Plant joins the Vegetarian and Vegan Foundation to raise awareness of the links between diet and breast cancer The public talk – One in Nine – is on Wednesday 27 February 2008 at Lecture Theatre 1, New Hunt’s House, Guy’s Campus, off Great Maze Pond and Newcomen Street, London SE1. Standing alongside the VVF will be eminent academic and accomplished speaker, Professor Jane Plant. Find out why breast cancer cases are rising, now affecting one in nine women and hear about major the role of diet.

Juliet Gellatley: founder and director of the largest vegetarian and vegan organisation in Europe, Viva! and of the health charity the Vegetarian and Vegan Foundation (VVF). Juliet will explain what it is about modern dairy farming methods that makes cow’s milk so harmful.

Dr Justine Butler: VVF senior health campaigner and author of the VVF’s new ground breaking One in Nine report and A Fighting Chance guide. Justine will discuss the latest research on how red meat and dairy are linked to breast cancer and explain how you can protect yourself by changing your diet.

Professor Jane Plant CBE: top scientist, author of best sellers Your Life in Your Hands – Understanding, Preventing and Overcoming Breast Cancer and Prostate Cancer and world authority on how animal products (and other food and lifestyle
factors) can cause breast cancer. Jane will describe her own moving story of how she overcame breast cancer by changing her diet. Hear how she used her scientific training to research diet and breast cancer and devise a diet plan that has helped many other women.

The Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation is increasingly being seen as the UK’s premier authority on health and dietary matters with a growing number of health professionals and journalists contacting us for information.

To read the report and guide go to:
Posted in News, Press Releases | Tagged , ,

Cosmetic Solutions, Harley Street, London

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20% off non-surgical aesthetics
Cosmetic Solutions/Angelica Kovouni
129 Harley Street
London W1
T: + 44 (0)20 7486 9040

Ms Angelica Kavouni MD FRCS Plastic Surgeon is the director of a medical practice specialising in anti-ageing care and cosmetic plastic surgery.

The clinic offers a complete range of modern aesthetic procedures and non invasive rejuvenation techniques.
Plastic surgery requires an artistic eye and an expert hand to execute properly and Angelica is known for her perfectionism and attention to detail.

Angelica appreciates that a positive body image improves quality of life and the perception of well-being, therefore her team strives to provide every patient with the latest anti-ageing procedures in a safe, caring, and relaxing environment.

Although no one can offer risk-free plastic surgery, or guarantee a perfect result, we offer plastic surgery of the highest quality with your safety and satisfaction remaining our priority.

Combining a professional approach to patient education with the personalized attention each patient deserves, 129 Harley Street is a special destination for your anti-ageing care and cosmetic surgery.

Karine Jackson Hair & Beauty, Covent Garden London

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10% discount on hairdressing
Karine Jackson
24 Litchfield Street
London WC2H 9NJ
T: + 44(0)20 7836 0300
Website: www.karinejackson.co.uk

Karine Jackson, of Karine Jackson Hair & Beauty, is the Winner in the London Hairdresser of the Year Category at the 2007 British Hairdressing Awards

Karine Jackson Hair and Beauty salon is an oasis of calm amongst the bustle of London’s West End. Whether you need to indulge yourself for a few hours in the full range of hair and beauty treatments, or a little lunch hour pampering, it’s perfect. There is even a glass of champagne on offer.

As well as the usual hair colourants, Karine offers bespoke organic colour that really works – leaving your hair softer and shinier than ever before.

Karine and her staff really make your feel at home here.

www.vitalityshopuk.com offers 20% discount

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20% off all products

The Vitality Shop UK offers you the highest quality health nutraceuticals and beauty products from around the world.The aim of Vitality Shop UK is promote healthy lifesyles so that you can not only live longer and more vital lives.

Improved medical intervention and nutrition, has resulted in a huge spurt in longevity in the 20th century. An extra 20 years has been added to the average lifespan, bringing the average global life expectancy to 66 years. Life expectancy in Ancient Rome was 22 and in the Middle Ages 35. Today there are some people who live to more than 115 years.

Although medical science is a long way from the discovery of a longevity pill, there is a growing community of doctors worldwide who believe that we can change our biological biomarkers to those of a younger person by making positive lifestyle changes. As a result we can live longer, happier and healthier lives.

Email us at service@vitalityshopuk.com for your promo code

Nosh Detox – bespoke food delivery within the M25 area only

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10% off

Email: info@noshdetoxdelivery.com T: 0845 2576674
Web site www.noshdetoxdelivery.com

· Put on extra pounds that just won’t shift?
· Feeling lethargic and low?
· Post-pregnancy weight and no time to spend on yourself?
· Too tired after work to cook and eat properly?

Then Natural Organic Safe and Healthy is for you

At last, innovative company, Nosh has created a unique service that delivers nutritious and appetising organic, dairy and gluten free meals direct to your door.

Eating healthy, delicious meals and getting in shape, all become much easier when you have a dedicated chef working for you. No longer just the preserve of stars and the super rich, Nosh’s highly trained chefs specialise in a variety of international cuisines and use only the highest standards of fresh, organic produce to create delicious, dairy and gluten free meals tailored to your lifestyle.

And it’s all so easy! Every morning Nosh will deliver specially prepared gourmet meals and snacks, for both you and your family that will both delight your taste buds and satisfy your dietary needs. So whether your aim is weight-loss, detox, or simply a long needed energy boost, you can forget recipe books and supermarkets, and concentrate on enjoying all your new found free time.

Brainchild of Geeta Sidhu-Robb, author of the best selling, ‘Food for All: Gluten, Diary, Egg and Nut Free Cookbook’, Nosh was founded in 2005, initially providing healthy food for babies and children. Geeta’s own son was diagnosed with anaphylaxis as a baby and went on to develop multiple food allergies, leading Geeta to retrain as a food technician with a mission to educate people in correct eating patterns and the benefits of a balanced diet.

Nosh is based in Chelsea and caters for customers within the M25 area of Greater London. At £39 Nosh is the only food delivery service that guarantees its customers organic diary and gluten free food – and you can taste the difference.
info@noshdetoxdelivery.com T: 0845 2576674
Website: www.noshdetoxdelivery.com