Archive for the ‘Mental Health’ Category

Affirmations!

Monday, May 31st, 2010

Here’s some welcome advice from my good friend Marnetta Viegas of Relax Kids…

It is so important that children wake up feeling great inside and grow up knowing that they are special. Children with a deep sense of worth and self esteem will find life easier and grow up enjoying each moment and challenge.

Affirmations are a powerful tools to help boost a child’s self-esteem. Getting children to repeat a positive quality or statement about themselves is key to developing their feeling of self worth and value.

Repeating positive affirmations brings calmness, positivity as well as power and inner strength.

Here are some positive qualities that you can use and encourage children to talk about, think about, feel, draw, repeat, practice, affirm, write and act out.

I am special
I am great
I am unique
I am confident
I am loved
I am powerful
I am courageous
I am peaceful
I am happy
I am determined
I am lucky
I am calm
I am bright
I am talented
I am clever

The more children (and adults, actually) think and feel these qualities, the more the qualities will be a natural part of their life.

This is something that we could all learn from – related to my earlier postings on the gratitude dance.

Take a moment to look at the Relax Kids CDs available from my site.

I have found these CDs and products AMAZING in helping my own kids and those of my patients with sleeping and behavioural disturbance, low mood, aggression, self esteem, bullying, or just plain feeling out of sorts!

Love & light,

Alison x


Dr Alison Grimston's Blog

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Holistic Doctor on Line is the blog of Dr Alison Grimston, a United Kingdom GP and spiritual healer who works with animals and people. Here she offers insights and information on integrating the best of complementary and scientific medicine in human and animal care.

Holistic approaches to depression

Friday, May 28th, 2010

Fernworthy_small Hi there, naturally healthy people!

I was recently approached for advice about managing depression, alongside medication.

I see many people with depression every week. It is so common in the current stressful circumstances that we live in. For many, it is not until they truly find themselves that they find the resources to get better -permanently.

I recommend http://www.livinglifetothefull.com/ , or its Australian equivalent, http://www.moodgym.anu.edu.au/   These are computerised CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) which is brilliant, given that the NHS can’t afford face to face CBT for everyone who would benefit.


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The fantastic patient leaflets that I use every day are on www.patient.co.uk – search under depression & you will pick up self help guides as well as specific leaflets on medications (most used are SSRIs these days, like fluoxetine & citalopram) and even on St John’s Wort. There are also excellent self help guides on stress & anxiety; although I am not always certain how many of my patients actually fill them in, if you do so they help you to think through your problem & introduce CBT.

There are many other approaches to depression & I would recommend finding a coach to help you find ways of addressing your mind/body/spirit and home/work life balance. 

Reflexology can be excellent at helping the energy to flow again, and Spiritual healing and Reiki can help you to heal yourself.

EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique)is very powerful, especially if maintained. Ann (see Tap to the Top -  EFT Workshops and Training) is absolutely fantastic, so if you are able to work with her it would be working with a guru. EFT is great, as part as a multidirectional self management plan.  The main thing is to gradually change your way of thinking about yourself, your internal conversation – NLP can also help here.

Don’t forget relaxation and meditation – my website www.TheNaturallyHealthyPet.com has the best CDs I have ever found on it, including an introduction to meditation through the chakras called Journey Through the Chakras.  But the healing CDs by Nigel Shaw (also on my site) are amazing; I only have to hear the first chords now to relax. Deep breathing is essential. Yoga can help to teach you this.

Nutrition – essential – tip out all junk foods, coke, crisps etc. Try to eat as close to natural as possible, raw foods are good (see the Raw Food Coach ), organic is better than non organic & farmed well better than factory – the food holds the energy of the animal  – I found this info amazing. Drink plenty of water – I drink filtered now.

You can guess how difficult I find it to work in the NHS, trying to give all this information out in 10 minutes as well as take a history!

LOL
Alison
www.holisticdoctoronline.com


Dr Alison Grimston's Blog

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Seven Steps to Going Raw

Words of Wisdom

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

Willow_in_bracken_small_2 Hi there, naturally healthy people;

I am eager to tell you about some words of wisdom that I receive regularly into my in-box.

From all my experience in life, medicine and healing, I know that only I can change my perception of myself and those around me. We all get stressed – indeed, challenges are needed to keep interest and excitement in our lives. At times the stress seems unbearable, and we feel that it is natural to blame those around us.

In general practice, I am privileged to peek into people’s lives, and at times I am amazed at the degree of human resilience that I see. Some people cope with the most terrible life events – indeed, when we are sent such challenges, we can do nothing but get on with it, take each day as it comes, and live on – rise to the challenge.

It helps us to count our blessings if we simply take a look around the world and see what otheres are going through – years of homelessness and living in makeshift slums; starvation and infant death from preventable infectious diseases where there is no clean water supply; the monks in Burma………the list goes on. So I am grateful for water coming out of the tap, for having paid work, for having a fantastic family.

However, it is difficult to always think positively, even when you know that the decision to be positive comes from within you.  So I find these two free resources really helpful in cheering me up each day.

Take a look! I have posted today’s wonderful examples below, as well as links to their websites…

Bob Procter’s Insights of the Day

Variable in length, these anecdotes and stories can encourage us to change the way we relate to those around us – in many ways.

Mike Dooley’s Totally Unique Thoughts

Brief and easy to read, these "Notes from the Universe" prove thought provoking and stimulate the positive thinking that makes the Law of Attraction work for any of us!

TUT

Couldn’t you just pretend with the job or occupation you now have, whether or not it even pays or is recognized by others as a job, that you’re receiving a salary of millions each year for doing it? That everyday your peers, partners, or supervisors are left in awe by how you deftly handle each challenge and setback? That there are backroom discussions going on (sh-h-h-h-h….) even as you nonchalantly read this email, about retaining you no matter how high the cost? That shareholders are beginning to whisper among themselves about your legacy, and board members are each hoping to bump into you at the water cooler? That the competition has just hired a management consultancy firm just to keep up with your innovative style?

I think you could, even if you work in your pajamas, and I’d highly recommend it. Especially the "millions each year" part.

Insights of the Day

Power of Words 
"Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me!"

We all heard that saying when we were children, and, like so many other childlike chants, it was a great myth. Words do have power, immense power, and they can cause much pain, because when they are repeated in negative fashion, people, especially children, may end up believing them. "You’re a bad boy," "You’ll never amount to anything." "You’re a loser," "Does your face hurt? It’s killing me." These are only slight examples of the negative language we often hear. We have all heard them, and unfortunately have been guilty of dishing them out as well.

During the 1980’s there was a big push for building self-esteem, and workshops were available everywhere teaching us how to make people ‘feel good about themselves.’ This 180 degree turn seemed valid in theory, but what happened in many cases was positive feedback became the new mantra, and yet the effect didn’t always achieve the desired results. Why? Because recipients only benefited from the praise if they believed it was genuine. This brings us to an important point. Self-talk and self-belief are the keys. No one can ruin our day without our permission, and always feeling good about ourselves is impossible. I hold this to be true – that self-esteem and self-worth are not synonymous. Self-esteem is having pride in oneself and generally feeling good about who we are. I don’t know about you, but I certainly have had moments in my life when I wasn’t too proud of my actions, and without question I have had times when I didn’t feel good about me. This moment of "lack of self-esteem" would indicate that something is terribly wrong. Contrary to the education of self-esteem, nothing is wrong – we are simply human. Self-worth, on the other hand, is acceptance of who we are – all of our strengths and weaknesses, all of our abilities (or lack thereof), all of our joyful moments as well as those times of sorrow; our contributions and our refusals, etc. See a pattern? We are worthy simply because we are His creation, and we are loved for every part of us. Whether we are in a good place or a bad one, whether we are contributing or contaminating, whether we have done something to be proud of or something to be embarrassed or ashamed of, nothing diminishes our worthiness. The negative actions and the ensuing consequences may affect our self-esteem, but it has no impact on our self-worth!

Chris Snook with Chet Snook
From Wealth Matters

Chris and Chet Snook are leading experts in personal investments, entrepreneurship, personal development, and money management. Let them show you how to unleash your inner genius and develop your wealth mindset with their new book Wealth Matters.

Love and Light

Alison

How this site is funded:

Three types of contacts are listed. The first help to fund HolisticDoctoronLine.com, as they’re ‘affiliated links’ which invisibly take you usually via affiliate linkage or commercial money sites, which then pay this site. The second type are adverts such as Google Adsense, which are not vetted in any way and are not recommendations on my part. The third are links, often from charities, that do not help with the funding of the site.

You shouldn’t notice any difference, the links don’t impact the product at all and the editorial line (the things I write) is NEVER impacted by the revenue. If it isn’t possible to get an affiliate link for the best product, it is still recommended and still included in exactly the same way. For more details read how this site is financed.

Some of the links I provide may help to fund this site, but I promise that the editorial line is never impacted by the revenue, and I would have recommended them whether or not they contribute.

Give yourself some time!

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

Surgery_couch_small Hi there!

It is difficult, isn’t it? We are just not brought up to make time for ourselves! And we have to lead by example – goodness knows what messages I am giving my kids at the moment, what with setting up my animal healing website as well as being a GP – but it has been so exciting!

There are some amazing things, though.  I arrive at work at 8am, having dropped the kids off at their school bus at 0730 – it doesnt seem worth it to return home. So I start on the paperwork – blood test results, hospital letters, telephone messages from patients, changes to medication, writing prescriptions, medication reviews.

And do you know what makes a world of difference to my day? If I can just make time before morning surgery to lie down on my couch with my eyes closed for 5 minutes, with my healing music on (Nigel Shaw – see the CDs for sale on the left of my website), then I know that I love myself enough to give myself that time. It only takes 5 minutes – or even less if pushed – yet my day goes so much better, and I can easily release all those resentful feelings that we all feel at times; I am no longer a martyr!

So go on! What can YOU do to make time for yourself? Let us know, share the tips….

Love & light
[b][i]Alison[/i][/b]

Homeopathy improves wellbeing – more evidence

Thursday, May 6th, 2010

I was delighted to be told of this recent study in Northern Ireland showing good results with complementary therapies in both physical and mental health.

My personal view, though, is that all the while people get health care for free, they do not value it as much as when they have to put something of themselves (money is only a representation of energy) into the deal. They then see less improvement.

Homeopathy fares well in Northern Ireland report


  

Complementary and Alternative Therapies Backed for NHS Funding

 A major Government-funded study, carried out in Northern Ireland and commissioned by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, found there would be a range of benefits to patients in providing access to complementary and alternative medicine, and that the treatments could even save the health service money.
 

Treatments administered after referral from local GPs included acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic, osteopathy, reflexology and aromatherapy.


The Health Minister in Northern Ireland has made the independent evaluation report available to download on the Department’s website. As well as an extensive report with detailed responses from patients, GPs and practitioners, using a validated audit tool, focus groups and surveys, the report has made recommendations about the way forward. www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/hss/complementary-alternative-medicine.htm
 

The Results


Following the pilot, 80% of patients reported an improvement in their symptoms, 64% took less time off work and 55% reduced their use of painkillers.

In the pilot, 713 patients with a range of ages and demographic backgrounds and either physical or mental health conditions were referred to various complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies via nine GP practices in Belfast and Londonderry. 
 


Homeopathy received the highest percentage of reported improvements :   In relation to treatment programme, patients who availed of chiropractic and osteopathy treatments (56%) were less likely to record an improvement in their level of wellbeing, compared with patients availing of acupuncture (77%) and homeopathic treatments (79%) (see page 31 of the report).

Health improvement

• 81% of patients reported an improvement in their physical health
• 79% reported an improvement in their mental health
• 84% of patients linked an improvement in their health and wellbeing directly to their CAM treatment
• In 65% of patient cases, GPs documented a health improvement, correlating closely to patient-reported improvements
• 94% of patients said they would recommend CAM to another patient with their condition
• 87% of patient indicated a desire to continue with their CAM treatment

Painkillers and medication

• Half of GPs reported prescribing less medication and all reported that patients had indicated to them that they needed less
• 62% of patients reported suffering from less pain
• 55% reported using less painkillers following treatment
• Patients using medication reduced from 75% before treatment to 61% after treatment
• 44% of those taking medication before treatment had reduced their use afterwards

Health service and social benefits

• 24% of patients who used health services prior to treatment (i.e. primary and secondary care, accident and emergency) reported using the services less after treatment
• 65% of GPs reported seeing the patient less following the CAM referral
• Half of GPs said the scheme had reduced their workload and 17% reported a financial saving for their practice
• Half of GPs said their patients were using secondary care services less

Despite initial scepticism, the GPs involved were almost unanimously in favour after seeing tangible results. In 99% of patient cases GPs said they would refer the patient, or a different patient, to the scheme again and in 98% of cases GPs said they would recommend the service to other GPs. However, they also called for more information to help build their understanding of CAM therapies.


 

(Source: Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety : Evaluation – Complementary and Alternative Medicines Pilot Project in Northern Ireland, May 2008 (see web-link above); and circular email from Get Well UK)


Enjoy your week, and live healthily!

Alison

This is the blog of Dr Alison Grimston, a United Kingdom GP and spiritual healer who works with animals and people. Here she offers insights and information on integrating the best of complementary and scientific medicine in human and animal care.

Disclaimer:
The content of our website is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor relating to any medical condition.




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Insomnia – Natural Help

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

Guy_sleep_small Hello naturally healthy people!

As a GP I often get asked about insomnia. This may be short- or long-term.

For many people, insomnia is a transient thing while they are going through extreme stress, such as bereavement or divorce. I used to suffer from lack of sleep myself, and when my job was most stressful I would wake several times per night for months, worrying about the staff or the practice, or complaints. I combatted this through healing and meditation, but there are other ways.

Click here for an excellent patient leaflet on insomina from the patient.co.uk website:

http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23068774/

Some simple things that you can do to reduce your insomnia are:

Reduce caffeine-containing drinks, especially at night

Reduce alcohol in take and stop any street drugs

Do not smoke in the 6 hours leading up to bed – time

Exercise well earlier in the day, but exercising in the few hours before sleep can interfere with sleep.

Do not have a heavy evening meal

Recognise your diurnal rhythm, recognise when you are tired in the evening & follow your instinct, but try not to sleep during the day.

Ensure that your bedroom is a calm, relaxing place to be. Too much clutter can interfere with your energy, too stuffy and you will not be able to breathe clearly, and don’t have a television in the room.

Relaxation techniques can be helpful – they were extremely effective for me (see below). Learn to relax at yoga classes, buy a relaxation CD (see the CD pages of my NHP website, http://www.thenaturallyhealthypet.com/categories/20070910_2) or contact other sources such as the Brahma Kumaris (www.brahmakumaris.org.uk/).

CBT can be helpful – there are insufficient therapists available for demand, but you can do CBT yourself from your computer using Moodgym ( http://moodgym.anu.edu.au/) or Livinglifetothefull (http://www.livinglifetothefull.com/).

Drugs are unhelpful except in the very short term for extreme stress, such as bereavement. All hypnotics (sleeping tablets) are addictive, even the new ones, sometimes even within a week of starting taking them. Antidepressants such as amitriptyline can help with sleep at very low doses, without that same addictive potential. If you are considering medication, talk to your own doctor.

Since I started doing Spiritual Healing and meditation, however, sleeping is no longer a problem. Even if I do wake up and worry, I know I can (and do) push the concern away until a more appropriate time, and I get back to sleep within 1-2 minutes.

I know many people will not believe this, but meditation and self-hypnosis really do work.

First of all you need to understand that you choose whether to be stressed or not. This may sound far-fetched, but when I get stressed now I stop to consider at what point I am making that choice. Once you realise that you have a choice, you can take steps to change the way you think about things. This can be helped by NLP (neurolinguistic programming), hypnosis and hypnotherapy, and CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy).

In order to stop worrying (when you are aware that you are worrying excessively about something) you need to find some way of distancing yourself from the worry. For me I find that putting the worrying situation or relationship into a pleasant hotel room full of healing and peace, and throwing away the key, allows me to focus elsewhere. An alternative is to place the worry onto a cloud in your imagination, and watch it drifting away to leave you with a good night’s sleep. Some people have a “worry pot” with a lid – they write the worries down onto a slip of paper and put it in the worry pot until their once weekly time for lookign through the worries. Often some of the worries do not then seem so major. Some people burn the slip of paper, or put it in the freezer. The trick is to keep trying out techniques until you have found one that works for you.

And don’t forget the deep breathing! This is essential in allowing your muscles and whole body to relax. I find it effective in any stressful situation, and within 3 -6 deep breaths I am usually asleep at night.

Anyway, that is enough for one week! Meanwhile, post a reply on the comment form below the blog post with any tips that you would like to share to help with relaxation and insomnia.

Until next time, keep naturally healthy!

Alison

The content (including graphics, text, and information available on or through this website) and health information presented or discussed on this website is NOT a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, counseling, and/or therapy. The information, data, responses to your questions, and materials contained in, or made available to you with, this site and/or its content are not, nor are they intended to be, a medical evaluation or examination, medical advice or consultation, nor are they a replacement for, professional medical or mental health evaluations, examinations, advice, consultations, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified medical professional relating to any medical condition.

Keeping a Gratitude Journal

Monday, April 26th, 2010

Barcombe_sunset Wow! I have just read Judith’s 1001 (yes, 1001) reasons to be grateful!

I have been encouraging the kids to notice the things they are grateful for every day, and Boy! does it change your outlook on life! However, I did not make the original EFT class and have not (yet) been keeping a gratitude journal (although I have a sneaky suspicion that here may be a use for the beautiful silver diary that Nathalie aged 6 gave me for my Christmas present).

Do have a read of Judith’s blog – you may only scan the gratitude list (I actually read it – wow!) – but she is so right! Judith is an inspirational and motivating lady whom I have met on the Moneygym, who owns several properties, several businesses, and loves business coaching, too!

As for my gratitude list for tonight – just a few, honest -

My children, Willow the licky loopy black labrador, Guy my soul mate, chef and husband, the tent in the garden, fresh air, green, plants, animals, healing, love, sunsets like this one in Barcombe, the clouds, God, the angels, intuition, my health, discovering the Moneygym, Liz Whiter, Jo Shawcross, my mother, horses, Wow, Betty, Dancer, my wonderful house, this amazing garden, which is bigger than any I have ever had or ever will in any previous or future life, the birds, the rabbits, our guinea pig colony, the holiday cottage, cattle, Middle Farm, violins, singing, piano, and I have to stop now because Guy wants the computer – roll on me setting up the wireless network!

To feel calm and clear

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

Baby_guinea_pig Hi!

I have been getting extra exercise this week, running after guinea pigs and dancing – 3 performances of 2 tap and 1 modern dance!

I have also had several reasons to use the Bush Flower Essences this week. Many of you will have heard of the Bach Flower Remedies, especially “Rescue Remedy”, sometimes known as “Emergency Essence”. In addition to these helpful little vials of which there are 38 different individual remedies, there are also Bush Flower Essences, developed from the native flowers of the Australian Bush.

Ah, I hear you saying, Australia again – is the woman transfixed? But in truth I found the Bush Essences before I went to Australia. I had heard of them before but was impressed with the way in which Tim Couzens, the holistic Vet in East Hoathly, integrates them in his own holistic veterinary practice.

There are vials of drops, just as with Bach essences, but where I have found the Bush remedies to be particularly useful is in the room sprays.

Emergency essence mist is made up from the vibrational infusion of Angelsword, Dog Rose of the Wild Forces, Waratah, Fringed Violet, Sundew, Grey Spider Flower, and Crowea. The mist also has a few drops of essential oils of calendula, echinacea, chamomile, aloe, arnica, lavender and bergamot.

The mist can be sprayed around any one who is panicking, feeling anxious, concerned about a concert or interview, angry, or any such adrenaline overload. In addition it can be used after accidents, and animals that are fearful of fireworks or other fears can be calmed with a few sprays in the air above their heads. I have found it useful for my self, and my son uses it before going on stage for singing and violin concerts – although for some reason he has no problem with acting!

The other mist that I use extensively is Calm and Clear mist. This contains the vibrational essence of Black eyed Susan, Bottlebrush, Boronia, Crowea, Bush Fuchsia, Jacaranda, Little Flannel Flower, and Paw Paw. Again it has additional extracts and essential oils – notably lavender, Neroli, Orange and Patchouli.

I use this one every day! I spray it around my consulting room between patients, and around myself if I am feeling a little anxious. It seemed to help the whole cast in the dance performances at the weekend! It smells so beautiful – far superior to anything “Glade” and the equivalent can come up with – that you can’t help but take a deep breath and sigh with delight.

More about the Bush Remedies and others another time! But I do sell them, so if you need any and are around the practice, let me know! Soon I will set my website up so that you can obtain them from there…Meanwhile, you could buy them from Flower Sense

The content (including graphics, text, and information available on or through this website) and health information presented or discussed on this website is NOT a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, counseling, and/or therapy. The information, data, responses to your questions, and materials contained in, or made available to you with, this site and/or its content are not, nor are they intended to be, a medical evaluation or examination, medical advice or consultation, nor are they a replacement for, professional medical or mental health evaluations, examinations, advice, consultations, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified medical professional relating to any medical condition.

Dancing for energy!

Friday, April 16th, 2010

Life has been hectic as ever, and I have had fun juggling life, walking Willow & keeping fit,  and my websites & other home business. I love it! Variety & excitement keep me young!

I have always loved the video on Youtube – “Where the hell is Matt”, and found today on the usana blog that one of the USANA associates, Ed has also been inspired – take a look here!

This reminds me how good we feel when we dance, how amazingly it adds to our energy. and keeps us motivated.Have a great few days!

Blessings,
Alison

The content (including graphics, text, and information available on or through this website) and health information presented or discussed on this website is NOT a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, counseling, and/or therapy. The information, data, responses to your questions, and materials contained in, or made available to you with, this site and/or its content are not, nor are they intended to be, a medical evaluation or examination, medical advice or consultation, nor are they a replacement for, professional medical or mental health evaluations, examinations, advice, consultations, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified medical professional relating to any medical condition.

What Can Antioxidants Do For Me?

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

Hi there,

My patients and friends often ask me what exactly antioxidants are, so I would like to introduce you to some of the ideas that make me realise why they are so important for our health. Take a look at this:

Part I of IV: Antioxidants – What are they?

Oxidation is a natural process that happens to all cells in nature, including the cells in your body. Antioxidants provide an important defense against the daily assault of free radicals on healthy cells. This Essentials of Health four-part series will review the function, benefits, sources, and safety of dietary antioxidants.

Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms with an odd (unpaired) number of electrons and can be formed when oxygen interacts with certain molecules. Once formed these highly reactive radicals can start a chain reaction, like dominoes. Their chief danger comes from the damage they can do when they react with important cellular components such as DNA, or the cell membrane.

Cells may function poorly or die if this occurs. To prevent free radical damage the body has a defense system of antioxidants. Antioxidants are molecules that can safely interact with free radicals and terminate the chain reaction before vital tissues and cells are damaged. Although there are several enzyme systems within the body that scavenge free radicals, the principle micronutrient (vitamin/mineral) antioxidants are vitamin E, beta-carotene, vitamin C and selenium.

The body cannot manufacture these micronutrients so they must be supplied in the diet. In addition, there are literally hundreds of plant derived nutrients (phytonutrients) that act as important antioxidants in the diet. It is impossible to avoid damage by free radicals.

Free radicals arise from sources both inside (endogenous) and outside (exogenous) our bodies. Oxidants that develop from processes within our bodies form as a result of normal breathing, metabolism, and inflammation. Exogenous free radicals form from environmental factors such as pollution, sunlight, strenuous exercise, X-rays, smoking and alcohol. Our antioxidant systems are not perfect, so as we age, cell parts damaged by oxidation accumulate.

Source: USANA Health Sciences

http://www.usana.com

The content (including graphics, text, and information available on or through this website) and health information presented or discussed on this website is NOT a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, counseling, and/or therapy. The information, data, responses to your questions, and materials contained in, or made available to you with, this site and/or its content are not, nor are they intended to be, a medical evaluation or examination, medical advice or consultation, nor are they a replacement for, professional medical or mental health evaluations, examinations, advice, consultations, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified medical professional relating to any medical condition.