Health Notes, Feb 3rd 2008, by Sarah Stacey

Comfort socks for problem feet

What on earth could an amber-eyed, beer-drinking, very affectionate goat called Ulysses have to do with painful feet? In fact, Ulysses and the 75 other Angora goats at Corrymoor Farm in Devon receive frequent fan mail about the relief and comfort provided by the socks knitted from their prize-winning mohair fleeces. ‘I didn’t know what Raynauds syndrome was until we started getting letters from grateful customers saying how much difference our socks had made to their lives’ says farmer Stephen Whitley, who owns and runs Corrymoor Socks with his wife Jenny.

According to the Raynaud’s & Scleroderma Association (raynauds.org.uk), Raynauds is a common condition affecting 14 per cent of working age adults, where blood is prevented from reaching the extremities of the body whenever the person is exposed to the cold or, indeed, any slight change in temperature. As the blood vessels contract, toes (and fingers) become dead white or blue black, and painful. Keeping warm is one of the simple ways of helping Raynauds. The Corrymoor mohair socks (which also contain nylon to give them stretch and cling) help keep feet consistently toasty.

Other sufferers of circulatory problems including diabetics also report that they benefit: ‘customers with diabetes particularly like the ribbed “Gentle-top” version which come to mid calf and don’t pinch at all. People with venous problems often prefer knee-high versions, which avoid any pressure on the veins of the lower leg’ says Stephen.

Over the years, a significant number of chiropodists and podiatrists have contacted Stephen over the years on a slightly different tack: ‘basically, they say the socks are good for smelly feet...’ While sheep’s wool has scales that trap the pong-causing bacteria, mohair (which is actually hair) is much smoother: ‘there’s nowhere for the bacteria to hide - so no smell’ Stephen explains. As well as throwing off bugs, the smooth fibres expel moisture so the socks don’t get stiff and uncomfy. Indeed, many customers report that they can, if necessary, wear Corrymoor socks for several days without needing to wash them: a recent anecdote told to the Whitleys concerned a guest at a theatrical dinner party in London who was so determined to convince fellow diners of the fragrance of his long-unwashed socks (’he said a year but that could be artistic licence’) that he pulled them off and passed them round the table.

The socks, which come in a range of gorgeous colours, don’t irritate sensitive skins in the same way as wool sometimes does though some ultra-sensitive types opt for undyed mohair - a lovely creamy tint. Even with the nylon content, most report no flare-ups. Fellow riders swear by them for avoiding chilblains and while the idea of socks may not wreak of romance, they might impress chaps for Valentine’s Day...

Corrymoor Socks, Tel 01404 861245, www.corrymoor.com

Babymoons

We’ve inherited the concept of a baby shower from the US and now comes the ‘babymoon’, a chance to enjoy those last few moments a deux before the upheaval of birth, as well as time to bank some energy with a few hours of pampering and relaxation in five-star surroundings. A pregnant colleague reports that, aside from its celebrity following, Rocco Forte’s ultra modern Lowry Hotel in Manchester is now also a secret mecca for parents-to-be thanks to the ‘Simply Baby’ package, which includes an overnight stay in a superdeluxe bed replete with pillows to shore up even the ripest of bumps), 90-minute “Maternal Melt’ full body and face massage with carefully selected oils, plus a 2-hour ‘executive stress’ massage (including facial) for him, to relieve muscular aches and pains. There’s a no-calorie-spared afternoon tea thrown in too. (From £395 per room, per night based on two people sharing, tel: 0870 460 5040, thelowryhotel.com) Down south, the Lanesborough Hotel in London’s Knightsbridge also offers its own ‘Baby Moon’ package at weekends – with a deluxe double room, breakfast, customised pregnancy massage for you and a massage for him, non-alcoholic cocktails, chocolates, plus a choice of afternoon tea or three-course dinner. Price £525 plus VAT per couple. Contact 020 7259 5599 or www.lanesborough.com

A stitch in time

May I remind anyone needing varicose vein surgery to have it done over the winter so you can wear bandages, support stockings and dark opaques (respectively) without overheating and itching in the warmer months? By the same token, schedule small dermatological procedures (such as laser removal of non-malignant moles) before the spring - they often leave skin temporarily very sensitive to sunlight.

Book of the Week: Healthy Eating for Strong Bones