Natural Health

Low Blood Sugar

An abnormally low level of sugar in the blood is known as hypoglycemia. It can occur in people with poorly controlled or unrecognized diabetes, but also in non-diabetics. Some sufferers also have thyroid problems, so a check-up may be advisable. The carbohydrates we eat are converted into sugar, which is carried in the bloodstream to provide energy for all our body functions. Ironically, people who eat large amounts of sugary foods are most at risk of low blood sugar. This is because refined sugars cause an almost instant surge in the blood sugar level, but this quickly drops, so you crave more sugar and find yourself a vicious circle of energy highs and lows that exhaust the body. Other symptoms of a low blood sugar include irritability, poor concentration, weakness, headaches and fatigue. In diabetics it can, at worst, lead to a coma. Read the rest of this entry »

Blood Pressure

For most people, blood pressure problems involve high blood pressure, where the heart has to work very hard to pump blood. Not surprisingly, high blood pressure is one of the most important factors in causing heart disease. It is natural for blood pressure to rise in times of excitement and stress, but constant stress, smoking, a lack of exercise, too much alcohol, being overweight and a poor diet can cause it to stay permanently high. Read the rest of this entry »

Blisters

These fluid-filled bubbles of skin result from damage to the skin. They are often caused by friction, for example by walking long distances with unsuitable shoes or thin socks. However, they may also result from burns or as part of a skin disease such as eczema or an infection like chickenpox. Most blisters are best left alone. If one is ready to burst you can carefully puncture it with a sterilized needle and let the fluid drain away. Read the rest of this entry »

Bedwetting

It’s quite common for children to wet the bed up until the age of five or more, and some continue to do it well into their teens.

In children who have previously been dry, renewed bed­wetting may be caused by stress or anxiety. While it persists, don’t make a fuss about the wetting, which may cause more anxiety, but try to discover the underlying cause of the problem and put it right.

Young children who start to wet again both day and night may have a urinary infection, so consult your doctor. Read the rest of this entry »

The earliest known mention of the word ‘chakra’ dates back to 2500BC in the Hindu holy books, the Vedas. It comes from the Sanskrit meaning ‘wheel’ or ‘disc’ and relates to seven main centers said to act as valves for subtle energy – also described as ‘life force’, prana or chi. Although not physically detectable, each chakra is thought to be closely linked with a particular organ or hormone regulator in the body.

To understand how they work, imagine a garden hose attached to a tap. Once it is turned on, water should flow smoothly through the system. However, if the hose gets a kink in it, this affects the flow of the water coming out the other end. If this is left unattended for any length of time, it can cause damage to the entire system because of the build-up of pressure. The same is believed to apply to the chakras. When these subtle energy valves or discs are spinning freely we enjoy good physical, mental and emotional health. When they are blocked or dysfunctional we may experience symptoms of disease. Unbalanced chakras may be caused by unhappy childhood experiences, or even the karma – from previous lives – you are reincarnated with. Often they reflect unresolved psychological or emotional issues, such as low self-esteem. Read the rest of this entry »

Crystals have captured the imagination of humans for thousands of years. Crystals were used in ancient rituals to cure disease by placing certain stones on the body or pulverizing them and mixing the powder in liquid, an early version of mineral water! Linked to particular ’subtle energy centers’ of the body – called chakras, according to an ancient Hindu system of healing – crystals are used by New Age practitioners who believe they can help heal a person physically, mentally and emotionally. Crystal enthusiasts include Elizabeth Taylor, Shirley MacLaine, Goldie Hawn, Simon Le Bon and Richard Gere. Read the rest of this entry »

The term radionics is derived from the words ‘radiations’ and ‘electronics’. The principles of radionics evolved from the work of Dr Albert Abrams, a distinguished American neurologist born in 1863. He put forward the idea that each disease has its own unique energy pattern that can assist with diagnosis and healing. He designed a box with variable electrical power, and noted that when a wire from this was placed over diseased tissue, percussion (tapping with the finger) of the person’s abdomen produced a dull sound when the box was on a particular setting.

He then made the leap from examining the patient personally to using a blood sample instead – and had similar results. He died in 1924, the year that the Royal Society of Medicine found there was ‘a very high degree of probability’ that radionics made sense. After Abrams’ death, Dr Ruth Drown, an American chiropractor, developed radionics further, finding that it was possible to treat a patient from a distance, using the blood sample as a link between patient and healer. In the 1940s George De La Warr, a British civil engineer who became involved in the radionics movement, found that a hair sample could be used in the same way. He also developed a radionic camera which produced dramatic results. In one instance, a spot of blood from a pregnant woman was placed on the camera and a picture of the fetus was produced. The woman was 50 miles away when the picture was taken. The medical establishment treated the pioneers of radionics with disdain and this attitude often persists today. Read the rest of this entry »