karmerscentre@yahoo.co.uk

Claire Tappenden, IFA, IFR, ITEC, TAec, BMLDA Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Sports and Body massage, Thermo-Auricular Ear Candles & Colonic Hydrotherapy. As a child I was born with eczema and a milk intolerance and at the time my mum broke the norm in that she was interested in complementary therapy and used it both for her and for me, i no longer have eczema or a milk intolerance thanks to my mum and I no longer have them. I also suffered very badly with hayfever which was controlled using reflexology and basically the use of complementary therapy has followed me throughout my life. It’s about getting a balance between orthodox medicine and complementary therapy they can both work in harmony together. At the end of the day all basic medicines have come from plants and herbs. I then trained to be a fully qualified chef in London entering various competitions. I gained a lot of knowledge about, not only food but nutrition and how it affects us. Even down to the way we cook food and its affects it can have on us and also chefing gave me a good insight into peoples eating and drinking habits. With my knowledge of food and nutrition and having complementary therapies still myself I then decided to train firstly in massage gradually adding more therapies until eventually opening up my own clinic in Chatham Karmers Clinique, which was very successful. Then in 2006 I fell pregnant and throughout my pregnancy I used massage, reflexology and essential oils and I had no problems at all. I had a wonderful home birth with Virginia Howes of the www.kentmidwiferypractice.co.uk again no problems using my therapies. I then decided to move my practice closer to home in Maidstone which is at a rural location and more relaxing and calming. Being a therapist is very rewarding and helping people to improve living their lives to the full makes me feel part of a profession who cares and listens to people. Seeing the clients face bright and clear when they come back and say how good they feel makes people realise there really is place for complementary therapy amongst orthodox medicine