Natural Health

Being asked to resist pressure exerted on a muscle by a complementary health practitioner may seem a strange way to get to the root of an illness. But this is what kinesiology is all about and its advocates claim that as well as increasing general well being, it can relieve all types of aches and pains, stress, digestive problems and emotional troubles such as phobias, anxiety and depression.

Kinesiology (pronounced kin-easy-ology) uses simple, gentle muscle tests to analyze functional imbalances in the body as well as sensitivities to food and toxic substances in the environment. It incorporates many of the principles of traditional Chinese medicine and, like acupuncture, works on the principle that illness is due to blocked energy (chi) in invisible channels, or meridians, running through the body. Read the rest of this entry »

Eczema

There are several types of eczema. The symptoms include an itchy, red, painful, weepy rash, or dry, flaky skin. Afterwards, the skin may crack and bleed. Long-term eczema needs to be treated by a doctor or qualified complementary therapist. However, self-help measures can relieve symptoms. Try not to wear clothes made from potential irritants such as wool – which may contain lanolin – and synthetic fibers; avoid biological washing powders and perfumes, and use a water filter (for drinking and cooking purposes) to reduce the amount of chemicals in tap water. Read the rest of this entry »

Autogenic Training

German neurologist Dr Johannes Schulz, a contemporary of Freud, devised six simple mental exercises in the 1920s which he called ‘autogenic’, meaning ‘generated from within’. There are now more than 3,000 scientific papers published worldwide claiming autogenic training can be a significant self-help tool for health and happiness, and it’s often used in corporate training programs to increase personal potential.

Dr Schulz believed that by relaxing into a near hypnotic state, and repeating a formula of words while concentrating on parts of the body, a person could counter the effects of stress and help their ability to recuperate. The exercises switch off the body’s stress responses and help re-balance the activities of the right and left sides of the brain. Read the rest of this entry »

Earache or Ear Infection

Earache can occur as a secondary infection in children who have a viral or bacterial infection in the throat or nose, and can also be a symptom of mumps or measles.

Pus, or a bloody discharge from the ear, indicates a burst eardrum from the pressure of inflammatory fluid in the middle ear. Read the rest of this entry »

Yoga was first introduced to the West in the 19th century, gained serious popularity in the 1960s and has undergone another revival recently, with the likes of Demi Moore, Sting, Oprah Winfrey, Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna asserting that it’s the secret of their health and fitness – and even their success.

Yoga is a system of physical and mental training which is intended to affect body, mind and spirit and, eventually, to lead to spiritual enlightenment. It was developed by Hindu yogis, at least 2,500 years ago, to maximize physical, mental and spiritual health and development. It is believed that, by following the basic principles of yoga -proper exercise, breathing, relaxation, diet and positive thinking and meditation -you can achieve inner peace, total health, calmness and a sense of well being. While true followers of yoga use it to enhance their spirituality, the majority of people doing yoga in the West practice it as a form of exercise and relaxation. Yoga is well suited to the pressures and strains of modern life, even though it is such an ancient health system. Read the rest of this entry »

Dry and Dehydrated Skin

Drinking too much coffee and alcohol, smoking, harsh weather and centrally heated environments can all contribute to dry skin. Read the rest of this entry »

Assessing health through studying the eyes is thought to date back at least as far as ancient Greece and Hippocrates. In the 19th century, this art was revived by a Hungarian called Ignacz von Peczely. As a boy, he was said to have observed how the iris of an owl changed, first when it suffered a broken leg and then as it got better. He went on to make observations of the human iris, often being able to predict someone’s impending illness. After qualifying as a doctor, he drew up the first chart of the iris as a key to health. Peczely and those who went on to develop his work in the early years of the 20th century were ridiculed by the medical establishment. Read the rest of this entry »