St John's Wort - nature's mood booster

Pretty yellow flowers with a powerful effect, St John's Wort has been used as a mood enhancer from the ancient Greeks to modern doctors and was one one of the first (and few) herbs successfully licensed under the new EU Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (THMPD).

It is non-addictive and safer than prescriptive anti-depressants.

EU Herbal Medicine Ban - the next steps

The EU Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (THMPD), signed and ratified by the UK government in 2004,  came into force on April 30th 2011.

However confusion is rife amongst consumers, retailers and manufacturers as to what it actually means - will unlicensed stocks be withdrawn, will consumers have fair choice of product or will an elite group of wealthier manufacturers lay claim to herbal remedies?

The good news is that many herbs are sold under license so we are not without a herbal supply.

Defend natural healthcare & fight the EU ban

Did you know our choice to take vitamins and supplements is about to be taken away from us? Fight the ban.

EU Ban
The law has been seeping into UK & European legislation since January 2010 and comes into full force this April, 2011.

• But It's not too late to sign the petition.

Say no to EU ban on vitamins & natural healthcare

While the CAM Expo was successfully underway at the weekend so too was the Joining Hands for Health Campaign - both attempting to safeguard the future of natural medicines and therapies.

The CAM EXPO is the UKs largest complementary therapy and alternative medicine show and attracted over 5000 visitors throughout the 2-day event covering education, innovations, natural remedies, superfoods and new therapy techniques. The holistic therapists, doctors, health specialists, nutritionists, manufacturers and health retailers shared, learned and demonstrated the importance of taking responsibility for our own health while considering natural health solutions.

What to expect from a Dr Bach's consultation

The healing properties of plants and flowers has long been understood but in the 1900s when Dr Edward Bach, a Harley st surgeon, pathologist and bacteriologist produced a set of flower remedies for everyday, and more complex, ailments he set in motion a whole new outlook on herbal medicines.

Gone was the idea that herbal medicines belonged in simple folklore, here was a medically trained physician pronouncing flower power. Dr Bach's system adopts a holistic approach - treating the personalities and feelings of patients to alleviate unhappiness and physical distress, over simply targeting the ailment - which allows the body's innate wisdom and healing potential  to become unblocked and kick start the recovery process.

Boost your stamina with powerful Tulsi

If you've not yet heard of Tulsi, you will now.  This sacred herb is gaining in popularity. Renowned for its healing properties, this herb has been use in Ayurveda and Unani systems of medicine for thousands of years as a means of:

• Improving stamina
• Reducing stress
• Boosting the immune system
• Supporting the metabolism - thus making this purple herb popular in the battle of the bulge.

How? What is it exaclty?

Trouble sleeping? Try this 5-step natural plan

Not having enough sleep is a serious concern and has huge consequences on our health.

Our bodies don't rest, recover or regenerate properly and our mind continues its incessant chatter. So whether it's due to illness, aches & pains, stress, depression, exam nerves, insomnia or you simply don't feel tired, here's 5 natural steps to a better night's sleep.