Fractures
Most fractures result from injury. However, in the elderly, particularly in post-menopausal women, very little impact can fracture a bone. A healthy diet, plenty of daylight and weight-bearing exercise (such as walking or aerobics) helps keep bones strong and reduces the risk of fracture. Read the rest of this entry »
Foot Odor
Foot odor occurs as a result of bacterial action on sweat. There are more sweat glands on the feet than anywhere else on the body and the average pair of feet loses about ½ liter of sweat each day. Wearing synthetic socks, shoes and trainers and/or spending a lot of time on your feet causes the feet to sweat more and creates the perfect environment for bacteria to breed. Shoes and socks made from natural fibers allow the feet to breathe and help reduce odor. It helps to wash your feet every day in warm, soapy water, dry them thoroughly, avoid wearing the same pair of shoes two days running and go barefoot whenever you can.
Food Poisoning
Food poisoning usually occurs within 48 hours of consuming contaminated food or drink.
In most cases it is unpleasant, but not serious.
The typical symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea and fever are the body’s way of eliminating poisons and should not be suppressed without medical advice. Read the rest of this entry »
Fluid Retention
The body retains fluid for many reasons.
Heart disease, hormonal changes, liver and kidney problems, a poor diet and long-term use of steroid drugs may all be implicated.
Simply wearing tight clothing can cause swelling, most commonly around the ankles.
Regular exercise helps counteract fluid retention.
Flatulence
Wind in the intestines can cause abdominal swelling (bloating), discomfort and pain. It is a normal and inevitable product of digestion, but can be exacerbated by gulping down food and drink when you are stressed or nervous.
Certain foods also cause gas to accumulate as they ferment in the gut. Excessive wind can be a symptom of digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, a peptic ulcer, long-term constipation or a hiatus hernia.
A sensitivity to certain foods can also sometimes be to blame.
This common problem used to be called fibrositis, or muscular rheumatism. It is characterized by muscle pain usually felt in the back, shoulder and neck, although it can occur in other large muscle groups such as the buttocks. It causes aching or a sharp, or searing, pain and it can come on suddenly and clear quickly, or be a more longstanding problem. Sometimes it occurs as a result of repeated bouts of over-strenuous exercise, at others it may be triggered by cold, but it is often related to stress and tension. Other symptoms include morning stiffness and muscle tenderness. Many people with fibromyalgia have sleep problems, depression, headaches, restless legs, painful periods, irritable bowel syndrome and Raynaud’s phenomenon (when the fingers and toes become hypersensitive to cold.) Many of the symptoms of fibromyalgia are similar to those of chronic fatigue syndrome.
Naturopathy is one of the oldest approaches to healing. It is based on the philosophy that the human body has the innate ability to keep itself well. But this can only happen if we eat properly, exercise regularly, enjoy our work and relationships, and live in an unpolluted environment. Modern naturopathy grew out of the ‘nature cures’ that drew people to Europe’s spa towns in the 19th century, but its ideas can be traced back more than 2,000 years to Hippocrates, the ‘father of medicine’. Read the rest of this entry »
