The Chief Medical Officer of England recently likened antibiotic resistance to international terrorism. It is a threat that should be taken seriously – if antibiotics fail to work with infections, are we going back to the dark ages? People have taken them so for-granted that they expect to receive tablets every time they have a cough or cold.Even TB is returning in this country, which is a shocking step backwards.

Healthy intestines – healthy you

The health of your intestines accounts for 70 per cent of the health of your immune system, so ensuring that the microflora are ‘friendly’ can have enormous health benefits.

The gut is like a wild garden with over 400 different species of bacteria weighing some four to five pounds. In a healthy person the ‘friendly’ microflora cling to the wall of the intestinal tract like barnacles preventing harmful bacteria getting a hold. But they are constantly under attack from hostile bacteria which become prevalent when we suffer from stress, take antibiotics or the oral contraceptive, eat poorly, become ill, travel abroad, or drink too much alcohol.

Stress sets off a chain of activities in the body resulting in excess mucus being produced in the gut, which allows the microflora to slide off the wall of the intestinal tract, leaving space for the dangerous bacteria to take over. When we travel overseas we may get a double whammy – added to the stress of getting ready to go away and travelling for hours it’s possible we might eat food that contains harmful bacteria as well as drinking unsafe local tap water.

Once diarrhoea sets in all the friendly bacteria are completely flushed out and need to be replaced. If antibiotics are prescribed for the upset stomach they kill of pathogens in the gut, but also destroy everything in their path including microflora. Oral contraceptives and steroids have the same effect, so consequently the immune system is weakened and we are left defenceless.

A proliferation of hostile bacteria in the intestinal tract creates the right environment for the yeast, candida albicans, to multiply and take on its fungal form. Candida grows roots which pierce the cell membranes giving it free access to the blood and tissues.  See Could it be candida?

Boost your immune system

Help is at hand in the form of Probiotics, a word which literally means ‘for life’ and a word that is slowly creeping into the popular vocabulary mainly due to advertising for yogurts containing probiotic bacteria such as Lactobacillus.

The generic term, Probiotics covers a number of strains of friendly bacteria which naturally occur in food or can be taken as food supplements. In Sweden a packet of Probiotics is routinely provided alongside a prescription for antibiotics to try to prevent too much damage being done.

Probiotics supplements consist of live microbial cultures which inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, promote good digestion, boost immune function, stimulate the growth and activity of microflora, and improve the balance of healthy bacteria in the intestinal tract.

There are a number of friendly bacteria strains which can be found in the gut, some of which are resident and others which pass through without staying. The primary residents are Lactobacillus and Bifidus bacteria, while thermophilus is transient. Most of the organisms create an acid environment which is hostile to harmful bacteria, and they assist in digestion. Lactobacillus acidophilus and bulgaricus also fight the harmful bacteria.

Some manufacturers add Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) to their supplements. FOS are found in tomatoes, onions, bananas, garlic, wheat, artichokes, leeks, asparagus, and chicory nourishes, encourages the growth of both Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli in the colon. These are prebiotics which are like the ‘fertiliser’ to encourage the growth of the healthy bacteria found in probiotics.

Nutritional advice

Nutritionists and complementary therapists often prescribe probiotics for people with digestive problems who are suffering from excess candida, but to kill off the candida they usually suggest herbal antifungals as well. The analogy of a lawn has been made – before putting down the grass seed it’s important to get rid of the weeds!

Patrick Holford, author and broadcaster and the founder of the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in the UK, recommends a specific four-point programme. ‘Firstly, I would put a patient on a diet which excludes sugar, then use antifungals, boost the immune system with whatever minerals and vitamins the patient is lacking, and finally give them probiotics.’

The number and type of strains which are contained in probiotics varies from one manufacturer to the next although some companies produce a wide range which includes most of the major strains.

There are so many sites in the gut where bacteria can live and one strain cannot populate the entire gut. Different bacteria like different growing conditions and it is important to find a probiotic which contains the bacteria that populate every part of the gut.

The post Nature fights back – probiotics appeared first on Healthy Soul.

The good news is that the hayfever season has been delayed by the long cold  winter. Among the 12 million people who have hayfever in the UK, 95  per cent are affected by grass pollen, but many suffer from the tree pollens that are abundant from the spring. Silver birch is the most prevalent hay fever trigger, but it only releases pollen as the temperature goes up.

Nutritional changes

More and more people are getting hayfever and age is no  barrier – you can start getting it at any age.   Ali Cullen, nutritional therapist at A. Vogel suggests some nutritional changes:

• Eat foods with anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties: including carrots, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, avocado, mango, apricots, peaches, nectarines, papaya, pears, pineapples, blueberries, blackberries, purple grapes, blackcurrants, prunes, plums, raisins, figs, herring, salmon, sardines, trout, and pilchards.
• Cut down on foods that trigger inflammation such as: caffeine and refined sugar.
• Avoid mucus-forming dairy foods – milk products – to help to reduce catarrh.

The symptoms

Hayfever is an allergic reaction to pollen or mould which the body reacts to as alien substances. It causes numerous symptoms:

• Sneezing
• Runny, red and itchy eyes
• Blocked nose
• Wheezing
• Itchy throat
• Coughing
• Headaches and tiredness
• Sleep problems

Although it’s unpleasant the body is dealing with the alien substance by trying to get rid of it through sneezing and runny nose and eyes. Not surprisingly all this makes people feel very run down and unwell for as long as it lasts.

Types of pollen

Different people react to different pollens such as grass pollen, tree pollen and mould spores. Some weeds like nettle can affect people who are sensitive and often sufferers also react to house dust mites, animal fur and chemicals in household products and furniture.

Where you live

If you live in the south-east, the Midlands, north-east or central Scotland, particularly in a city you are more likely to suffer than people in most of Scotland and Wales, the north and the west country. The pollen season is shorter in Scotland and Wales and places like Devon or the Lake District benefit because of mountains and moorland.

What can you do about it?

Most people use anti-histamines, but they can make you drowsy.  There are some great natural remedies including a nasal wash – with a tiny bit of salt in warm water, or beetroot juice (if you can bear it) to clear out the nostrils. You can buy neti pots that enable you to do this easily – it has a little spout. This isn’t a pleasant experience and you might prefer one of the nasal sprays below.

There are herbal remedies, homeopathic remedies, and nutritional advice that can all help to minimise symptoms.  A. Vogel’s Pollinosan hayfever tablets are homeopathic and help to ease symptoms of hayfever and allergic rhinitis.  HayMax  is a drug-free pollen barrier balm that you apply around the base of the nostrils. This traps the pollen before it gets inside and sets off symptoms.  (See below)

A few self-help tips

• Avoid grassy areas particularly in the early evening when the count peaks
• Inhale steam with a few drops of basil, tea tree in to soothe nostrils
• Net curtains help to trap pollen
• Rub some olive oil on the inside of your nose to trap pollen
• Keep windows closed where possible
• Shower and wash hair after being outside to eliminate all traces of pollen
• Do not mow the lawn
• Wear sunglasses to keep pollen away from eyes

Herbal Remedies

There are a variety of remedies which are available as drops, tablets or nasal sprays.

• Luffa is little known but believed by nutritional experts such as Alison Cullen from Ayrshire to be the ‘number one treatment’. Clears a blocked or runny nose, and watery red eyes but has no side-effects, and children can take it. Start two weeks before the hayfever season is in force.
• Echinacea can be taken from one month before the hayfever season and then combined with Luffa.
• Euphrasia as a herbal tincture can ease watery sore eyes.
• Nettle for people who get skin rashes as well – a natural antihistamine;
• Butterbur – can help when the season starts and if hayfever has got a real hold

Quercetin is a substance found in onions that is believed to stabilise the body’s cells that produce histamine and cause the allergic response (sniffing, sneezing, wheezing). It is enhanced by Bromelain, an enzyme found in pineapples, which is said to help the absorption of quercetin into the body.

The post Eating tips to ease hayfever appeared first on Healthy Soul.

Giving up certain foods, or existing on fruit alone for 24 hours, is not hard, especially when the benefits are so great.

I now give my system a regular detox boost, even if it is only over the weekend. A short detox programme is a great way to feel more energised and refreshed. It is the perfect way to revitalise the body, renew energy levels and restore glowing skin and when you have finished you will feel far fitter and healthier and motivated not to return to bad habits.

Better Breakfasts

Starting with a healthy breakfast is not only the best way to boost energy levels for the day ahead, but is an easy, positive and delicious daily start to a new you. Refined sugars, found in most breakfast cereals, are the first thing I give up if I’m embarking on a health spring-clean and cutting them out gives me far more sustained energy throughout the day.

My favourites:

• For cold mornings a bowl of porridge made with water and sweetened with honey, complete with a sprinkling of sunflower seeds.
• Chopped fruit and berries with a dollop of natural yoghurt.
• A protein-packed organic boiled egg that also contains useful vitamins A, B-complex and E, as well as minerals such as zinc, served up with toasted wholemeal soldiers and a glass of orange juice (Vitamin C will help increase your uptake of iron from the egg yolk).

Midday Meals

Not only is eating soup (of any kind) a good way to get various vitamins and vegetable fibre in a simple, healthy way, it’s also been proven to help shed a few pounds. This is because when food and water are finely mixed to make soup, they enter the stomach together and stay held in a homogenised state as they pass through our intestines.

The increased volume of water and semi-solid food then stays in our system for longer than if we were eating food and drinking liquid separately, so we feel fuller for longer.

According to researchers at Nottingham University, this means we are much less likely to over-eat. This is especially true of whizzed-up blended soups which reduce hunger-pangs the most due to this homogenisation effect.

Winding Down Liver Wrap

If a little overindulgence has left you feeling a little ‘liverish’, you might like to try a ‘liver wrap’ – a simple but highly effective way to stimulate the detoxification process in the liver.

You will need:

• A hot water bottle, a flannel and a small fluffy towel.
• Wearing just a dressing gown, gather everything together and lie down somewhere comfortable.
• Start by applying the cold damp flannel to the right-hand side of your body just beneath the ribcage to cover the liver area.
• The coldness felt by the skin briefly lowers the temperature of the tissues beneath and your body’s reflexes respond by increasing circulation in that area.
• Next, place a really warm hot water bottle on top of the damp flannel to retain moisture and stimulate the autonomic nervous system.
• This in turn boosts blood flow to the liver and supports its detoxification activity. Cover the hot water bottle with a soft towel and rest on a sofa or go to bed.

This is a useful therapeutic treatment to carry out at bedtime and you can even fall asleep with the hot water bottle in place. Otherwise, simply put your feet up and rest for 30 minutes (the longer the better). Three things to love about the liver wrap – it’s inexpensive, simple and it works.

Follow @LizEarleMe on Twitter for more tips on wellbeing 

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Guest blog by Alison Cullen

Arnica, courtesy of A. Vogel (Bioforce)

Before you head out for a workout make sure you stretch properly before. This will let your body prepare for exercise and will also warm you up which is important to avoid muscle soreness and injury as cold muscles mean tense muscles, which can lead to an increase in muscle tear.
Sore muscles are caused by the filaments in muscle fibres tearing and the breakdown of muscle tissue. Don’t panic though, this may sound scary but it’s perfectly normal, it’s just our body’s way of adapting to exercise.
Injury may come about when you’ve suddenly increased your workouts or mileage, which is a common mistake and stresses the importance of pacing yourself and stretching.

Fuelling up

Taking on enough fuel for your workout is also important. Avoid eating a hefty meal before training, so that you’re not trying to digest and train at the same time. It’s better to eat a few slices of malt loaf and a banana at least an hour before training, to release energy slowly and keep you going.

Pain awareness

Play it safe when working out and listen to your body, keeping an eye on any niggles that crop up. Pain is a signal so find out what it means before carrying on and risking further injury. Always find out what the pain is and why it’s happened so you can take steps to prevent it from happening again.

If you get a stitch while working out the best thing to do is focus on your breathing. Take deep breaths in and out.

Optimum fitness

To reach optimum fitness, target different muscle groups so you’re working your upper and lower body. Use gentle weights or try boxing programmes to work your upper body and do squats and lunges to strengthen your legs and you’ll find this will make a real difference to your fitness.

When you’ve finished your workout make sure you do gentle, long stretches. This will allow your muscles to recover from the shock you’ve just put it through.

Refuel afterwards

Make sure you eat well post-workout as this can have major benefits on your fitness performance and can be the difference between getting that personal best and hitting the wall.

Eat plenty of magnesium rich foods like nuts, seeds and wholegrains. They will allow your muscles to work efficiently and recover properly.
If you’ve had an intense workout it’s vital to refuel afterwards with good quality protein. Chicken with vegetables and pasta is a good post-workout meal and a tuna and salad sandwich can help you recover after a lunchtime run.

Aching muscles 

If you find your aching muscles are getting you down, pour yourself a warm bath with some bath salts to help soothe your muscles, or book yourself in for a massage.

Rubbing A.Vogel Atrogel into sore muscles can also help relieve aches and pains caused by workouts. It smells pleasant and is quick drying and can be applied up to four times a day so can be a great alternative to reaching for pain killers.

A.Vogel Atrogel contains Arnica, a herb which, when freshly harvested, is full of lactones. The lactones interrupt the inflammatory process right at its inception, preventing the production of inflammatory chemicals. Well known for its relief for bruising Arnica can also soothe muscular aches, pains and stiffness, and sprains.

A. Vogel Atrogel costs £9.65 for 100ml, and £6.35 for 50ml – click here to purchase from the Nutri Centre.

Alison Cullen is a nutritional consultant at Bioforce UK (A. Vogel).

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Since smoking in public places in the UK was banned,  it’s not uncommon to see huddles of workers outside their workplaces smoking in the street.  Isn’t it much easier to give up?

• There are 10 million smokers in the UK, the majority of whom are young people.
• Two thirds of smokers took up the habit before the age of 18.
• Every year 100,000 people in the UK die due to smoking related diseases.
• One in seven 15 year olds smoke, with more girls smoking than boys.
• Smoking related diseases cost the NHS £2.7 billion a year.
• 80 per cent of smokers take up cigarettes in their teens

Progress over time

There are 12 million people in Britain who have already given up, but  21 per cent of the population still smoke. 

In the past people weren’t aware that smoking was dangerous, and in the 1930s and 40s it was even considered glamorous. In 1948 82 per cent of British men smoked, and 41 per cent of women.

Smoking is the worst thing you can do for your health

• 90% of lung cancer deaths are due to smoking.
• 80% of bronchitis and emphesema deaths are due to smoking.
• 1/3 of cancer deaths are due to smoking.

Positive health prospects

The body is very resilient and health benefits are quick to realise. According to ASH, the anti-smoking public health charity:

•20 minutes after quitting: blood pressure and pulse rate return to normal;
•Two hours later: nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in the blood reduce by half and oxygen levels return to normal ;
•24 hours: carbon monoxide eliminated from the body, lungs start to clear out mucus and other debris;
•48 hours: no nicotine left in the body;
•72 hours: breathing easier, bronchial tubes relax and energy levels increase
•2-12 weeks: improved circulation;
•3-9 months: coughs, wheezing and breathing problems improve as lung function increases by up to 10 per cent;
•One year: risk of heart attack halved;
•10 years: risk of lung cancer halved;
•15 years: risk of heart attack falls to level of a permanent non-smoker.

Around 70 per cent of adult smokers want to quit and 86 per cent have already tried but failed. The benefits are all too obvious, not just in health terms but also to the smokers’ wallet – a 20 a day smoker spends almost £1,700 every year on their habit.

The good news is there is plenty of help at hand. Anyone can go to an NHS Stop Smoking clinic by referral from a GP, midwife or pharmacist (Local Stop Smoking Services, 0800 169 0169). You get to talk to an adviser and may be offered nicotine replacement therapy or Zyban, a prescription drug.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy:

Published trials claim that using nicotine replacement therapy to quit smoking doubles your chances compared with plain and simple willpower.  You can see your doctor about NRT.

•There is a wide variety of choice of NRT methods available on prescription including patches, gum, sprays, inhalers, tablets and lozenges.
•They all provide lower levels of nicotine than cigarettes which is absorbed into the bloodstream and is enough to relieve craving and withdrawal symptoms.
Available on prescription and over the counter at chemists.

Dispelling the illusion the Easyway

Boasting a 90 per cent success rate the Allen Carr Easyway method incorporates just one four and a half hour session with a trained therapist who:

•Dispels common misconceptions about smoking, such as its calming and confidence-boosting effects;
•Also included is a brief hypnotherapy session to reinforce the message.

Those people who give up smoking as a result of Allen Carr sessions claim that they come out of the session with a completely changed view about the habit, and the majority don’t revert to smoking.

For details of the nearest Allen Carr clinic contact: 0800 389 2115 (Freephone), www.allencarr.com

Blocking the nicotine

For people who find that they don’t know what to do with their hands when they quit NicoBloc provides a chance to give up gradually.

Drops of NicoBloc are put on each cigarette where it solidifies and blocks the amount of tar and nicotine inhaled.

The gradual build-up starts with one drop in the first week, two drops the next week and so on.

Eventually there is so little nicotine being inhaled and taken into the blood stream that the desire for smoking diminishes.

Available from chemists.

Natural alternatives

 It might be possible to get complementary therapies for quitting smoking on the NHS, at The Christie Hospital in Manchester, for instance where they use aromatherapy, reflexology, hypnotherapy and acupuncture as part of their smoking cessation programme.

Acupuncture can help

Acupuncture stimulates the body to release endorphins which help to induce a sense of calm and relaxation. 

•Needles are usually placed in the ear during a session – this is often called auricular acupuncture.

•Sometimes one or more is left in to help people cope with cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

For acupuncturists in your area contact the British Acupuncture Council: 020 8735 0400, www.acupuncture.org.uk

Changing behaviour – Hypnosis and NLP

A study of 6,000 smokers found that hypnosis was three times as successful as nicotine replacement therapy in helping people to give up.

Sometimes available on the NHS but mostly you have to pay for these.  The combination of hypnosis and NLP is often used to help people quit smoking as hypnosis works on the sub-conscious mind, and NLP provides ways of changing behaviour on a conscious level.

National Register of Hypnotherapists and Psychotherapists: 01282 716839), www.general-hypnotherapy-register.com

More information on giving up smoking: http://www.smokefree.nhs.uk and www.ash.org.uk

The post Quit smoking appeared first on Healthy Soul.

It’s official – holidays do us good in many ways as a new study has found out.  Among the findings of The Holiday Health Experiment conducted by tour operator Kuoni, and Nuffield Health, the UK’s largest healthcare charity, were:

•  Blood pressure of the holidaymakers dropped by a beneficial six per cent while the average of the non-holidaymakers went up over the same period by two per cent.

(Avoiding high blood pressure is important to avert risk of stroke and heart attacks).

• Sleep quality of the holidaymakers improved while that of the non-holidaymakers deteriorated. Holidaymakers saw a 17 per cent improvement while the average for non-holidaymakers reduced by 14 per cent.

(Quality of sleep is important for the body to physically and mentally repair).

• Stress – the ability to recover from stress saw an average improvement of 29 per cent among holidaymakers. This compared to a 71 per cent fall in stress resilience scores among the non-holidaymakers. (The higher the stress resilience score the better the body is recovering from stress efficiently).

Stress – The Essential Guide, Frances Ive

The Holiday Health Experiment was carried out between summer and autumn 2012, revealing how holidays may help us live longer.  The results are published in The Holiday Health Report.

So the ‘feel good’ factor of holidays has been proven.  The above benefits are extremely important to health because:

• High blood pressure can cause strokes and heart attacks, so avoiding it can be a life saver.
• The body heals when we are asleep so the quality of sleep is essential for physical and mental repair.
• The higher the stress resilience score, the better someone recovers from stress. Stress in itself causes absence from work, but has many other knock-on effects such as depression, anxiety, and serious illness.

Participants were divided into a travel group and a non-travel group and all had stress-resilience testing and a 360+ Health Assessment by Nuffield Health.  This was carried out alongside psychotherapeutic tests conducted by psychotherapist Christine Webber.

The Holiday Health Experiment also found: -

1. Decreases in blood glucose levels, reducing risk of diabetes
2. Improved body shape (losing weight around their middles) which may lower risk of heart disease and diabetes
3. Improved energy levels and mood

Six participants in one group were then sent on a holiday for two weeks to Thailand, Peru or the Maldives. The other six people stayed at home and continued working.

In September 2012, all participants underwent a second array of clinical and psychological tests and wore heart monitors for 72 hours.

‘As many as a third of workers do not take their full holiday entitlement each year – I urge everyone to ensure they plan their holidays carefully, working hard is important but so is taking time to rest and recuperate,’ Dr Lucy Goundry Nuffield Health, Medical Director, Wellbeing said.

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Echinacea, courtesy of A. Vogel (Bioforce)

There is no substitute for medical advice when someone is really unwell but for more minor ailments there are plenty of alternatives.

COLDS

Serious illnesses are not cured with complementary medicine, but symptoms can sometimes be managed with a healthy eating regime and use of therapies.

We’re more likely to get colds when we’re run down, stressed and tired. They are most common between September and March with peak time around Christmas. People still work when they have a cold, but rest and sleep are a good way to get better.

Symptoms include:

• sneezing
• runny nose
• blocked up nose
• sore throat
• earache
• sinus pain
• low grade fever

• Keep taking Echinacea to boost the immune system and help to clear up the cold faster
• Chew grapefruit seeds or take the liquid extract, according to Suzanne Woodward, medical herbalist
• Steam inhalations help to clear stuffed up noses – put a few drops of eucalyptus, tea tree, or lavender oil in a bowl of boiling hot water and breathe in the vapours
• Try ginger root tea– one inch of peeled and chopped ginger boiled in water

A great combination is Yarrow, Peppermint and Elder, often prescribed by herbalists as a tea – Yarrow fights fever, Elderflower eases catarrh, and Peppermint cools and calms.

The other great soothers for colds:

• Plenty of Vitamin C – nutritionists claim that 200 mg a day or more is safe when in need
• Garlic boosts the immune system – take capsules or if you can bear it put it raw into soups and casseroles.

Cautious note: always check with your GP if taking prescribed medication BEFORE having herbal remedies as they may contraindicate the medicines.

• Antibiotics don’t work for viruses, such as colds and flu
• Taking too many can lower the body’s defences when it needs to fight more serious infection

Echinacea can be taken at the first signs of aches and pains (unless you are on medication in which case you should check for contraindications), as well as homeopathic remedies:

• Gelsemium for aches and pains, rising temperature and constant aching;
• Rhus Tox for aches and pains which get better when moving around;
• Belladonna for sudden high fever, with or without sweating, cold hands and feet.

Boneset is an excellent herbal remedy for someone who has had flu for a couple of weeks, and it doesn’t seem to be getting better.

SORE THROATS:

Antibiotics should only be offered for infections like tonsillitis but natural remedies can help to soothe the throat. If a sore throat seems to be signalling the start of a cold the homeopathic remedy Aconite can stop it progressing.

Over recent years doctors have been advised to cut down on handing out antibiotics yet research shows that 44 per cent of people who see doctors when they have a cold are given a prescription for antibiotics. The downside of this is that when they get a serious illness they may be antibiotic-resistant (as we’ve seen with many hospital infections).

Propolis is made by bees from natural ingredients to protect their hives from infection and invasion, and gargling with it soothes a sore throat. Gargling with a few drops of tea tree oil or a pinch of salt in a glass of warm water also eases the pain.

HEADACHES

Too many painkillers can suppress headaches and make them recur. The causes of a headache may be tension, hormonal imbalances, blocked sinuses, or back and neck problems. If headaches persist you should always consult a doctor, but if there is no serious problem you might find that a chiropractor or cranial osteopath can find the problem and ease the pain.

Trying to get rid of a headache can be really difficult, and one approach is to put strong smelling eucalyptus or camphor on the skin above the sinuses or on the forehead as so many headaches are caused by blocked sinuses. There are now several sticks available that make this easy to do, except you must be sure not to get it too near your eyes or they will pour.

Feverfew is the herbal answer to painkillers and Belladonna homeopathic remedy, is good for a throbbing headache, particularly in children.

GLUE EAR/EAR ACHE

Often children with ear problems have repeated prescriptions for antibiotics which run down their immune systems. Homeopathy works well for glue ear and Pulsatilla is the most common remedy when there is lots of discharge. In cases of repeated ear infections a visit to a professional homeopath can be invaluable.

For adults earache canbe cleared by putting a drop of lavender oil on a piece of cotton wool and placing it in the ear, but the vapours are quite strong and may not be recommended for children. For a desperate child you could try the old fashioned remedy of a baked onion, cut in half, wrapped in muslin and placed on the outside of the ear. Jenny Jones, herbalist, explains, ‘The vapours from the onion oils are antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, and they go into the ear and the heat of the warm onion is also soothing.’

The National Institute of Medical Herbalists, 01392 426022, www.nimh.org.uk
For a list of homeopaths contact: The Society of Homeopaths, 01604 621400, www.homeopathy-soh.org
Jenny Jones, Creative Health Centre, Leamington Spa, 01926 316500

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Many people know aromatherapy as a relaxing massage with oils. But it’s much more than that. You can use essential oils in a variety of ways.

Lavender oil – there’s so much you can do with it I wouldn’t go away without a bottle. You can put a few drops in an oil burner to create an aromatic fragrance which is both relaxing and calming. You can apply it to stings and bites to ease itching and soreness. You can put a few drops in the bath to relax before bed, or if you can’t sleep you can put some on a tissue and leave it close to your face. The soothing vapours help you to sleep and you can put it in a spray bottle instead of a can of air freshener.

Tea tree is the next best oil to have in my bag. It’s antiseptic and has a strong pungent ‘clean’ smell so it’s great for cleaning – put a few drops in water and clean up your phone, your computer and other surfaces or even your kitchen. Put a few drops in the bucket when you clean your floor or use it in the bathroom to dispel other odours. Tea tree is also antifungal and can be used diluted in water or in oil on athlete’s foot, or a few drops in a bidet or shallow bath are good for thrush. Both lavender and tea tree oils can be inhaled in steam when you have a cold, cough or flu. Boil the kettle and put the steaming water in a bowl with a few drops.

Essential oils can be inhaled in steam, used in a compress or poultice, massaged in, put in the bath, burned in an oil burner, put in a spray bottle, or used in water to clean. They are very strong and should not be taken internally. They should be dispersed with the hand in the bath and some people suggest mixing them in milk before adding to the bath.

Basil oil – just sniffing the bottle can switch your brain on

Bergamot made from the peel of bitter orange fruit and is a delightful smell. It is helpful for anyone feeling depressed or tired and irritable. It is antiseptic and can kill germs in the home

Chamomile is calming and can be used in an oil burner or on a tissue for a fraught young child

Citronella keeps flying insects away so burn a few drops in an oil burner with water and place on the table

Clary sage is great for period pains – mix in oil and massage on your stomach. It also eases depression – put on a tissue and breathe in the pungent aroma.

Clove oil is well known for easing severe toothache,but be careful to apply to the tooth because it’s very strong and stings the mouth

Cypress oil in water stems blood from haemorrhoids, particularly after having a baby

Eucalyptus is excellent for clearing blocked noses and can equally be put in the bath to steam.

Frankincense is known for being uplifting, soothing stress and anxiety, and for its rejuvenating properties on the skin.

Geranium is calming and is a great oil to burn or disperse in the bath

Ginger oil helps to stave off travel sickness – just sniffing the bottle will do. It also helps to warm the muscles if you massage it in, and is great for circulation. Dilute very well.

Grapefruit is great for jet lag. Disperse a few drops in the bath

Jasmine is expensive but very uplifting and relaxing

Juniper oil has a reputation for slimming as it is a natural diuretic. A few drops in the bath can soothe a hangover or in massage oil it can ease aches and pains.

Peppermint is an excellent oil for many conditions, but it is incredibly strong so be careful with it. It is excellent for nausea, but most experts do not advise taking internally. Maggie Tisserand in her book Aromatherapy for Women suggests putting two drops in a spoonful of honey and add hot water. You could also put a few drops in an oil burner and breathe in the vapours. Dispersed in water or lotions peppermint soothes hot, red, and sore feet or athlete’s foot.

Mandarin in carrier oil helps to prevent stretchmarks and scars.

Rose is made from the petals of the flower, and has the most beautiful aroma.  It is an expensive oil but it is antiseptic and healing. It is also known to be uplifting and helpful for depression, stress or insomnia. Used diluted in a carrier oil it is particularly effective for the skin, smoothing out wrinkles and puffiness, and moisturising dry or sunburnt skin.

Rosemary wakes you up so the best way to use it is to have a bath and breathe in the vapours. It is also good for tired legs – so mix in a carrier oil and massage in.

Thyme helps to ease a cough and can be sprayed in water to the back of the throat • • Frankincense in an oil burner lifts mood and makes you feel confident. It’s a lovely smell too

Ylang ylang can ease depression, so keep some on a tissue tucked into your clothes so that you can breathe it in, or put in a bath

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It helps the body to recover quickly after exercise, and contains no sugar or sweeteners, unlike most energy drinks. Coconut water is the latest trend among celebrities and therefore it’s unusual in that it is also ultra-cheap.  It can also be a great help to people  convalescing from illness or accidents.

Coconut water is the juice squeezed from the unripe green coconut, before it turns white and milky becoming coconut milk, and it is as good as an isotonic drink. Isotonic means that it has the same salt concentration as body cells and blood, and it replaces the fluid and minerals which the body uses during physical activity.

Health benefits

Coconut water is high in antioxidants, electrolytes, boosts the immune system, but is low in cholesterol and fat.  It also has numerous health benefits:

• Soothes digestive problems.
• Helps you to lose weight.
• Detoxifies the body.
• Relieves urinary infections.
• Eases stomach pain and vomiting.
• Prevents hypertension.
• Balances PH levels and is very alkaline.
• Gives you more energy.

Cooking with coconut oil

The fats in coconut are also good for you and coconut oil is a great thing to use in the kitchen instead of olive oil as it isn’t stored as fat by the liver, so it does not contain harmful cholesterol. Also, unlike some other oils, coconut oil does not create trans fats when you heat it. There are many health benefits to coconut fats (lauric and capric acid) – they are  antifungal, antibacterial and antimicrobial and increase the healthy cholesterol (HDL).

Apart from drinking coconut water there are plenty of ways you can use coconuts in cooking – coconut cream or water can be added to curries, smoothies, soups, for example.   Watch this space for recipes!

Tiana Fairtrade Raw Virgin Coconut Oil, 500ml, £14.99 from the Nutri Centre

Tiana ~Coconut Water, 350ml, £1.76 from the Nutri Centre

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