Stop smoking with Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)

kick tobacco with EFT

Many smokers will do anything to give up. But giving up requires willpower.

And, once again, I have been lured away from my healthy lifestyle by the desire to roll a cigarette. I don't smoke daily, I don't smoke often, but I do like rolling my own sometimes - however before I know it, one becomes two and then I'm hooked again.

How to treat arthritis with complementary therapies

According to the Arthritis Research Campaign around 60% of people with arthritis turn to a complementary therapy to ease pain in some way as complementary therapies approach the body from a holistic point of view.

Holistic means looking at the whole, the mind, the body and the spirit, rather than simply addressing the physical sensation. This is different to conventional (allopathic) medicine which address the ailing body part, not the ailing person.

How Reiki calms a confused mind

Spring brings desires to let go of old habits and start afresh with new ideas.  So I made a list, very neat. I thought about priority, not so neat. And while my list was tidy my mind was not.

I just wanted to take action on a couple of practical concerns regarding house, work & money - mundane stuff, but somehow knowing what I wanted to to was a million miles away from knowing how to do. So I went to visit a reiki healer for a mental de-fuzz.

Acupuncture and cystitis - fast relief!

Half the female population get at least one bout of cystitis in their life and women are eight times more likely to have cystitis than men. If you've had it, you will know that it can be very uncomfortable, and can hurt very time you pee.

Causes of Cystitis

How colour therapy boosted my mood

As January made me feel a little drab  - cold days, long nights, dark mornings - I decided to try some colour therapy to lift my mood, so one wet Thursday afternoon I met with Mary Gold.

Mary is a Training Colour counsellor and healer with the Iris International School of Colour Therapy, Totnes, Devon, as well as being a Reiki Master and Reflexologist and a recently qualified teacher of holisitc therapies.

Just the woman I needed as I was feeling skint, tired, tetchy and frustrated - the usual gamut of January emotions.

The health benefits of hand reflexology

Because harsh winter winds and wet, damp drizzle can take their toll on our hands, it is worth paying them some attention. Hand
reflexology is a divine way to reinvigorate your overworked and under nourishedhands, as well giving your whole body an MOT.

Complementary healthcare for cancer

If you or a loved one are awaiting results, or undergoing treatment for cancer, there are a wide number of complementary therapies available that are proving to ease pain and assist recovery.

For decades, health practitioners have been aware of the powerful effect of a positive mental attitude coupled with a whole range of therapies - from drinking Essaic herbal tea, to eating paw paw to exploring the Gerson therapy - on cancer patients.

Sound heals speech and boosts general health

Whether it's singing in the bathroom to brighten your morning or using melodic intonation therapy to assist those people with aphasia - speech problems - or those with lost voices,  sound healing is as effective now as it was in the healing temples of ancient Egypt.

Our bodies, and all matter, are a constant vibrating mass of electrons, neutrons and photons that emit sounds even though we don't hear them. Sound therapy or healing, is about connecting with the vibrations within our bodies to soothe, harmonise, repair or respond to our own frequencies.

3 healthy treats for your feet

The average person walks, or should aim to walk, around 10,000 steps per day to keep in good health.

But if your feet are tired or chapping, bleeding, aching, blistering, ballooning or just refusing to budge, it may be time to address your foot health.

Feel like screaming? Reiki is the perfect tonic

If you're feeling confused, jaded, irritable and feel like screaming, or are simply in need of a good rest - try Reiki.

This natural healing technique requires nothing other than that you surrender to the innate energetic healing power of the universe.

After one session, you're likely to feel less tense, be able to think more clearly, have more energy and are likely to embrace your life situation with a fresh perspective.

"Homeopathy works" say 70% of NHS patients

While the debate regarding NHS funding of homeopathic medicine continues, still thousands of people are turning to homeopathy to cure all manner of common and serious ailments.

The House of Commons Science & Technology committee, a cross party group, argue that there simply isn't enough evidence to justify the £4million the NHS spends across the four homeopathic hospitals every year.

But the British Homeopathic Association (BHA) says that, on average, "70% of follow-up patients report an improvement in their symptoms after treatment".

Ayurvedic face massage - it's fantastic!

Ayurveda is Sanskrit for 'science of life' and has been practised and observed in India amongst the seers, scientists and yogis for over 5000 years.

Ayurvedic medicine promotes the rejuvenation of the body, longevity and disease prevention and when incorporated into life ayurveda brings change and cure.

Treating mind and body as one complete whole - mindbody - rather than two separate features, ayurveda examines the emotional/mental aspects of the physical body.

Smells like good health

Every one loves a good smell and aromatherapy oils have their own unique properties, so it's wise to choose a blend that makes us feel good.

Oils can be used as drops in the bath, in a burner, dabbed on the pillow,  mixed with massage oil and massaged into the neck and shoulders.

Top tip: When burning oils, first light the tealight inside the burner, then add the water. Leave the water for a few minutes before adding a drop or two of your oil. This will enhance the aromatic experience without wasting precious oils.
(oils are concentrated and best used often but sparingly)

Reflexology - foot massage for better health

Reflexology is an art. Not like oil painting or macramé, but the art of tending to the entire body by massaging the feet.

The Chinese knew that the whole body is connected by an energetic circuit that runs from head to toes, and created a medical system that utilises meridian lines and acupressure points.

So how does it work?

'Love-drug' boosted by massage

illustration by yasin öztürk 

 It's official. Massage increases the production of the hormone oxytocin, otherwise known as the  love-drug. So if you want some hormonal help for an amorous Valentines, treat your loved one to a massage - or better still, massage each other.

Oxytocin is associated with maintaining healthy, interpersonal relationships and psychological boundaries. Not only is it an ideal form of foreplay for couples, it is widely used as a bonding tool between parent and baby, as it has many physiological benefits.

Thai masage is lazy man's yoga

If you haven't got the focus for yoga but feel in need of a stretch, try Thai yoga massage. It's not called lazy man's yoga for nothing.

This energetic massage is suitable if you are fat, thin, flexible or stiff as the practitioner does most of the hard work while you relax and enjoy being realigned and balanced.

Homeopathy as treatment in NHS public health

Homeopathy works on the principles of 'like cures like'. The remedy for the illness or disease is usually found in the poison i.e. what cures the sick would make a healthy person unwell.

This paradox, together with the multi-dilution technique used by homeopaths does make it interesting, yet despite widespread criticism of this branch of natural medicine, the NHS spends £4million a year on homeopathy.

Fertility increased with acupuncture

If you’re struggling to conceive try acupuncture.
Over 3 million Brits turn to acupuncture each year to cure all manner of illness and complaints, and those seeking help for fertility are rarely disappointed.

“Fertility and acupuncture get a lot of press”, said Chris Dance of The Acupuncture Clinic, Hove. “Acupuncture is a very effective medicine at treating fertility but also for women and gynecology in general, it’s relatively non invasive compared to other drug and surgical options.

Massage away stress

Depressed? Tired? Stressed? Massage can help you!

Recession, long nights and stress at work can bring about depression, fatigue and anxiety. But regular massage helps to fight this by releasing mood-enhancing chemicals.

The International Journal of Neuroscience examined the effects of massage on depression, stress reduction at work and the stress of ageing. In the study, the stress hormone Cortisol showed an average decrease of 31% while the neurotransmitter dopamine increased by 31% and ‘happy drug’ seratonin was up by 28%.

Acupuncture & Back Pain

This ancient Chinese technique has penetrated the core of western medicine.
Earlier this year, The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) authorized the NHS to use acupuncture as a treatment for most of  the  1.1 million people in the UK who suffer from back pain.  

Good news for back pain but is it good news for acupuncture?