Test run: migraine treatment, meditation kit, and more

Courtesy of Dubai Marina Yacht Club

Meditation with a new focus

Like many people, I find meditation difficult. My mind wanders and I find myself making a mental list of things to do, thinking about what to have for dinner, or trying not to scratch my nose. Even a guided meditation can be a challenge for my monkey mind.

So the Merlin IntelliSense Coherence Kit seemed like an ideal option.

The virtual-reality headset comes with an app that downloads to your smartphone and has a heart-rate monitor, which you wear either across your chest or attached to your earlobe. With the app running, you place your smartphone inside the headset and follow the instructions.

You breathe in when the circle gets larger and breathe out as it shrinks. The screen tells your heart rate and your level of “coherence”, and at the end of the session, gives you a score.

What I like about this contraption, which Merlin describes as a “virtual-reality-based rhythmic breathing trainer”, is that it minimises the mind-wandering because your attention is focused on the circles. The virtual-reality aspect also helps cart you off to another world. There are three background scenes to choose from — an oasis in the desert, sunset over the ocean and a valley of pink flowers. As you turn your head, or look up or down, the scenery changes. For example, with the ocean setting, if you’re lying on your back looking up, you’ll see the sky, but if you tilt your head down, you may see dolphins frolicking in the water.

The app keeps track of how many sessions you’ve had and when, the duration and your score. However, I never worked out how to end a session, which means mine are never logged.

The device is also a bit clunky and not the most comfortable thing to wear on your head, but I do have a smaller-than-average head and face, so maybe that’s a contributing factor.

The kit can be used for as little or as long as you like, and as with meditation, any amount is beneficial. I just need to decide whether to spend my spare minutes looking at frolicking dolphins and breathing heavily, or practising mindfulness by colouring in.

The Coherence Kit costs Dh595 and is available at Virgin Megastore, Emax, Dubai Duty Free and www.merlin-digital.com.

Amanda Tomlinson

In the loop on migraines

As a chronic migraine sufferer, I jumped at the chance to test Cefaly over a two-month period.

Cefaly is a device worn as a band across the forehead. The majority of headaches and migraines involve the trigeminal nerve (the one responsible for sensation in the face) and the design of the Cefaly electrode enables it to make contact with these particular nerve endings. The product is supposed to stimulate the trigeminal nerve, increasing the pain threshold, and over time reduce the frequency of migraines.

I tried Cefaly for the first time on February 22, using programme one — the option for when you have a migraine or the onset of a migraine, mine being the latter. The device was easy to attach, comfortable, and once I came to terms with the Wonder Woman look, I pressed start with an open mind.

Fully expecting to feel a sensation between the eyes — where the electrode attaches — I was surprised to feel an instant tingling in the upper right side of my head, near the hairline. I wondered if I had put it on correctly? What can only be described as a disconcerting sensation began, as I felt a pulsating wave through my brain. After a few minutes, my entire head was dancing. I felt like my eyelashes were visibly vibrating.

It was a disturbing feeling and quite painful once the programme reached full power. I could pick out small rhythms and patterns waving along the top of my scalp. I persevered and completed the first session, which was a success. The onset of my migraine subsided and although I felt drowsy (a mentioned side effect), I was pain-free without using any strong migraine medication.

Subsequent use of Cefaly had mixed outcomes. Unexpectedly, I found programme two — the preventative mode — more painful than programme one. While it sometimes helped in reducing pain, it did not do enough to significantly reduce my need for migraine medication during the trial period.

Cefaly does not profess to deliver instant or miraculous results. It is designed to bring significant improvement to chronic or recurrent headaches over a period of time with regular use.

For me, the jury is still out on this device. I continue living with migraines but still have an open mind about alternative remedies.

The Cefaly migraine band costs Dh2,000 and is available at Boots in Abu Dhabi Mall and The Dubai Mall.

Emma Tracey

Pulse of the ultimate facial

The thought of having a facial treatment that uses an electrical-current machine had me a little on edge before I went in for my Ultimate Facial at Beach Rotana's Zen the Spa. But I’m happy to say that the anti-ageing signature facial is anything but uncomfortable. The gentle microcurrent, which claims to deep-cleanse the pores up to seven times more effectively than a regular facial treatment and lifts and plumps the skin, is barely noticeable. The session starts with the therapist talking to me about my skin tone, any problem areas I have and asking me what I’d like her to focus on. Before we kick the small, pulsating electrodes into gear, she gives me an explanation of how the tools will be used to exfoliate, tone and tighten my skin.

The “beauty” of this facial is that it’s non-invasive, uses completely natural products and combines massage with advanced microcurrent technology. After cleansing and toning, the machine, which has a number of different paddles, is used to lift, hydrate and activate the skin. Probes are used to physically move the skin around and squeeze the muscles to provide them with the necessary energy to maintain their new positions. This part of the treatment was the most uncomfortable for me, but only because the muscles in my face are thinner than most people’s, or so I am told.

After the fear of the whirring machine subsides, I spend the rest of the session relaxed. Steaming and extractions are not included in this facial, but if it's brighter, smoother, younger-looking skin you're after, then go for it. The only downside is that for more obvious results, it's recommended you receive a series of treatments. And the suggestion is I do it every two weeks, as I'm over the age of 35. At Dh700 a pop I'm not sure that's doable, but it's better than Botox. The Ultimate Facial at Zen the Spa, Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi, is a 90-minute treatment. Visit www.rotana.com/beachrotana.

Melinda Healy

Breakfast just got better

Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day and I love starting my weekends with delicious home-cooked scrambled eggs, smoked salmon and avocado.

Just recently though, I discovered a new favourite breakfast and I can’t get enough of it.

It’s Avocado and Salmon (Dh48) served at 25°55° at Dubai Marina Yacht Club.

It features two poached eggs — with just the right amount of gooeyness — on a slice of fresh wholegrain toast, with salmon and avocado (of course), as well as guacamole and a sprinkling of flaxseeds. The tangy freshness of the guacamole, with finely chopped tomato, onion, chilli flakes and lime juice, makes this dish a real treat.

Top it off with a smoothie — my personal favourite has pineapple, lychee, peach, banana, coconut milk and lemongrass (Dh27), although there are plenty of others — and the weekend is off to a good start.

Amanda Tomlinson