Natural remedies for the menopause

the menopause can be a rediscovery of self

This transition from one stage of womanhood to another, brings a series of emotional and physical changes - largely hot flushes and night sweats. But for some women, the menopause is a time of celebration! A time to be free of cultural constraints!

5 minute meditation for quick de-stress

Meditation made Buddha smile -
it's a quick fix de-stress

Following a trip to Nepal and a brief stint in a Buddhist monastery, I've rediscovered the benefits of meditation.

Even if just for 5 minutes, slowing the mental cacaphony has a wonderful effect on my body and nerves and means I face present challenges and life projects with more clarity and focus.

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.

Natural ways to beat the blues

According to the NHS Information Centre, 39.1 million people were prescribed antidepressants in the UK in 2009, up 9% on the previous year. While 55% of people cite money worries as their reason for feeling down in the dumps.

A low mood is very different to depression, however a low mood can become depressing when it is frequent and affects your family, work and every day life.

It's not uncommon for people to feel low without knowing why, or to burst into tears for an apparently unknown reason, but if left unchecked, these mild feelings can lead to a greater sense of heaviness, and result in serious mental health disorder.

How to tell if you are feeling depressed?

10 steps to beat stress

Stress is associated with busy lives where pressure weighs heavy. It's no longer the exclusive domain of city types either - stress has spread to the suburbs, the country and into the heart of rural life too.

So how do we recognise when it's got inside us, and how can we tackle it head on without the use of drugs or expensive therapies?

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.

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.

Bikram yoga - bootcamp for body beautiful

Bikram yoga, sometimes called hot yoga, is practised in a heated room and incorporates a sequence of asanas (postures) which take you from limbering up a stiff body to feeling nicely mobile and flexible. And sweaty.

A Bikram yoga studio is heated to around 105˚f but allows for some humidity and encourages a sweat.

Stress busting, brain enhancing MindSpa

A spa for the mind? Well sort of. You don't wear a plush white robe and have a foot massage, but you do relax or get motivated (your choice) while wearing a pair of special specs and some headphones.

MindSpa, a Gadget Show winner,  does for your brain what massage does for your body - chills you out, heightens your receptivity, softens your muscles and prepares you for your day, event, exam etc.

So what is it exactly?

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.

Top tips for treating Seasonal Affective Disorder

The winter blues, medically known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), effects 2 million people in the UK and around 12 million across Northern Europe, according to sad.org.uk

It's no joke when you feel depressed, and as the Autumn Equinox approaches (23rd Sept), with the official end of British Summer Time hot on its heels (31st October) the drop in the number of sunlit hours will leave most us missing the warmth, but for many it can be a serious bout of depression.

IBS or digestive trouble? Cut out wheat, eat spelt insead!

There's little in life more tempting then the smell of fresh baked bread. Crusty edges and soft floury dough adds warmth to a cold breakfast and complements homemade soup.

Alas, for many of us, wheat causes havoc with our digestion, energy levels, moods and constipation.

Fifteen reasons to smile

Just found this fabulous article so thought I'd share it with you...

Fifteen fascinating facts about smiling

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.

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.

Why Pilates helps your muscles and your mind

Pilates uses breath techniques to focus the mind and create space for the muscles to contract and the ribs to open. Sounds hectic, but it's not. The more it's practised, the more you get accomplished.

Thoracic breathing - breathing into the thorax rather than the belly - "fully oxygenates the lungs and dispels stale air," explained Penny Little, Pilates instructor.  Thoracic breathing works the intercostal muscles so it's "possible to breath into the upper part of the body, creating space, fresh oxygen and movement".

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.

Meditation for a modern world

In a bid to rid my mind of clutter and carnage I attended a 10-day silent meditation course. The course is unlike all other courses and workshops because it is practical, non denominational and free (donation only).

For 3 days we focus the mind by concentrating on our breath (anapana) then for 7 days we observe the sensations that are continuously arising within the body (vipassna).

The purpose is to attain liberation, but even if we are far from achieving Buddha status, this mediation technique brings peace, harmony and a glimpse of a happy ending.

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%.

Reiki for mental health

As a Reiki Master /Teacher, I have encountered people who have had varying degrees of success with reiki. But clients and colleagues all agree that when dealing with mental health issues - depression, anxiety, stress, phobias, eating disorders, addiction - reiki works towards recovery every time.

What makes it successful?