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ALCOHOL ISSUES: Is our love affair with alcohol causing more pleasure or pain? This is the provocative title of a public meeting…

ALCOHOL ISSUES:Is our love affair with alcohol causing more pleasure or pain? This is the provocative title of a public meeting on alcohol issues on Wednesday, April 18th at 6pm in the Royal College of Physicians, 6 Kildare St, Dublin.

Speakers include Dr Jim Kiely, chief medical officer, Department of Health and Children and Dr Declan Bedford, faculty of public health, Royal College of Physicians Ireland. The event will be chaired by David Begg, secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. Admission is free but advanced booking advised on tel: 01 8639700 or via www.rcpi.ie/publicmeetings

ARNICA STUDY:The homeopathic remedy, Arnica (in gel form) was found to be as effective as ibuprofen gel in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the hand in a randomised double-blind study of 200 patients from 20 Swiss clinics.

At the end of the treatment, there were no differences between the two groups in pain and hand function improvements. The study was published in the Rheumatology Internationaljournal.

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 AYURVEDIC COURSE:Ayurvedic practitioner and medical doctor, Dr Donn Brennan will give a one-day course on the principles of Maharashi Ayurveda on Saturday in the Kingston Hotel, Adelaide St, Dún Laoghaire.

During the day, he will examine the causes of health and disease and explain the importance of digestion and simple detox strategies. Tel: 01 284 5742 for more details. Cost €95. See also www.ayurveda.ie

SHIATSU SCHOOL:Shiatsu is a traditional form of Japanese body-work which balances the flow of energy by stimulating the acupuncture points on the body. The Irish School of Shiatsu run regular introductory workshops to Shiatsu.

The next one is scheduled for Sunday, April 15th from 10am-4pm in the Healthy Way, Ralph Square, Leixlip, Co Kildare. Cost €70. Contact Shirley McClure on mob: 086 6034481 for more details. See also www.shiatsusocietyireland.com

sthompson@irish-times.ie ]