PATCH IT UP 

Tired, aching muscles? Don't reach for the painkillers, try a quirky, all-natural pain relief patch instead... 

Next time you feel the need for a dose of paracetomol, why not try a new 'Patch-it' reflexology pad on the soles of your feet before bed instead? You can also stick one on during the day to soothe nagging aches and pains.

The ‘Patch-It All Sports’, based on the same principles as Patch-It, is currently used by the Korean National football teams and is endorsed by the country’s National Athletic Trainers Association, so there must be something in it.

Patch-It contains purified powdered mandarin wood vinegar that emits far infrared energy (heat) through the skin, which in turn stimulates the body’s reflexology points. When used over a period of 5-10 days Patch-It will help

Improve blood circulation and aid detoxification
Promote recovery from sports injuries and conditions such as muscle sprains, strains, arthritis
Reduce aches and pains eg shoulder stiffness, period pain
Increase energy levels
Improve sleep
Improve skin
 
Wood Vinegar

The art of distilling burnt wood from mandarin trees to produce vinegar was first developed in ancient Japan. From the charcoal kiln, smoke billows upward. When this smoke is cooled and condensed, a thick brown/black liquid results. This liquid is raw pryoligneous acid. From this raw material, further refining is carried out to remove the tar and any other undesirable elements. The result is a beautiful pale yellow liquid (like very weak tea) with far infrared properties. This liquid is then aged for up to a year to produce the final high quality wood vinegar that can be consumed as a health tonic to warm the body, activate the skin, moisturise and promote the efficient overall function. Reflexology The concept of healing various parts of the body through stimulation of points on the soles of the feet has been used in Chinese medicine for 2000 years.

Reflexology

Says Amy Wong, distributor of Patch-It in the UK: "Patch-It fuses Eastern and Western concepts of health and wellbeing, combining the principles of traditional healing and conventional science. Much like the use of needles in acupuncture or massage to generate stimulus in other organ or body functions, the far infrared effect of Patch-It generates stimuli to the reflex points within the body to promote efficient functioning of the organs and tissues."

What do I do with these, then?

When Patch-It is placed on the soles of the feet overnight it stimulates the body’s meridians by warming the reflexology points.This encourages healing and repair throughout the body including the liver, digestive system, kidneys, reproductive system, lungs and thyroid. When it's placed in contact with the skin where there is injury or pain, the far infrared energy directly affects the injured joint or muscle.

Patch-It works by boosting the far infrared (FIR) energy that our tissues normally produce, to increase warmth and healing. FIR energy has been researched and tested for many years in Japan, China, the US and Sweden for a range of conditions including muscle sprains, arthritis, shoulder stiffness, period pain and peripheral vascular diseases.

Our bodies radiate FIR energy through the skin at three to 50 microns, the most output at around 10 microns. This infrared energy is needed to stimulate normal tissue repair and regeneration. Parts of the body that have been injured or are not functioning properly selectively absorb infrared rays to speed up tissue repair.

Patch-It, from Nutriworks, retails at £12.95 for six patches, £20.99 for 14 patches or £29.99 for 20 patches. For stockists or further information readers can call 01506 840 616 or the website.