Health Guidelines

Allergies and allergy testing What is an allergy An allergy is a reaction produced by the body's immune system to a substance that would normally be thought of as harmless. It is this response that causes the symptoms that are classed as allergic reactions.  [more...]   Aloe vera - miracle plant Aloe vera is a plant of many surprises. It looks like a cactus, grows in dry surroundings, but belongs to the lily family. It stays moist and cool where other plants wilt, shutting down its pores to prevent water loss.  [more...]   Are anti-oxidants really dangerous? Study Claims Antioxidant Danger—A Repeat of Flawed Conclusions A Healthnotes Newswire Opinion By Alan R. Gaby, MD Healthnotes Newswire (April 17, 2008)—A new study published by the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews reports that taking antioxidant supplements does not prolong life, and that using certain specific antioxidants may slightly increase the risk of death.  [more...]   Astrology and your health characteristics Before the avid pursuit of science, astrology and medicine were once close companions. Indeed, Hippocrates, known as the father of modern medicine, is reputed to have said "a physician without a knowledge of astrology has no right to call himself a physician". By then of course (c. 460 BC), the link between astrology and medicine was firmly established.  [more...]   Candida infections Candida Albicans is a single celled, fungal yeast that is impossible to keep out of the body. Normally, it does no harm, because probiotics (good gut bacteria) like acidophilus keep it in check.  [more...]   Cholesterol and how to control it What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is an essential part of the make up of your body and is needed for good health. Most of the cholesterol in your body is made by your liver. Some cholesterol also comes from foods such as eggs, meats and dairy products.   Your body uses cholesterol to protect nerves, make cell tissues and produce certain hormones.  [more...]   Energy boosting light therapy The mornings are gloomy. The evenings are drawing in. Already we are pining for the long bright days of summer. But for anyone with seasonal affective disorder, which bears the unfortunate acronym SAD, the change is far more dramatic. In its most severe form, SAD affects 2 per cent of the population in Northern Europe, and its symptoms include mood swings, binge eating and excessive sleeping.  [more...]   Essential supplements for children and young people Healthy eating can help you manage your weight and will improve your overall feeling of well-being; it can also reduce your risk of developing illness and serious disease. Making sure that you're eating the right balance of the right foods is the key to a healthy diet. Here are a few top tips to make sure that you're having the right mix of foods: * eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day.  [more...]   Fatty acids and why they are essential! Essential Fatty Acids (Omega 3 and Omega 6) The quality of health reflects in large measure the quality of the food we eat. Research has identified 45 essential ingredients. "Essential" means: · we absolutely have to have them to live and be healthy · our bodies cannot make them from other substances · we must therefore obtain them in their natural state from the foods we eat (or from food supplements).  [more...]   Feminine hygiene health issues Are your sanitary products damaging your health? There is now a wealth of evidence to show that tampons and sanitary towels can be the cause of minor irritation in many women and lead to serious health problems for an unfortunate few.  [more...]   Herbs and their traditional medicinal uses Herbal remedies have been a fundamental part of man's medicine cabinet since the beginning of time. In every ancient civilisation the medicine man, shaman or witch doctor played a significant role in society. In western cultures traditional cures are often passed down within the family but much of the detailed knowledge of herbal medicine has been lost. Thousands of people swear by the efficacy of herbs and herbal remedies but cynics dismiss the knowledge as 'old wives tales'.  [more...]   Improving business efficiency with light therapy Many office workers exhibit symptoms similar to Seasonal Depression even in summer months and this can have a significant impact on their work output and interaction with colleagues. A review of the current research suggests that employers should be paying much more attention to the mental state of their employees and the time that they spend in the sunshine.  [more...]   Jet lag and how to combat it Here is an innovative new way to beat the scourge of long distance travel When you’re going away on the holiday of a life time or an important business trip, the last thing you want is to waste away half the trip feeling groggy, not sleeping properly and being unable to concentrate.   These common symptoms are the result of jet lag and occur after travelling across time zones between the east and west.  [more...]   Light diet helps causes of obesity New research (Journal of Neuroscience, Dec 2006) demonstrating the link between serotonin levels and our ability to appreciate the salt and bitterness of food explains why carbohydrate cravings and weight gain are so closely associated with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). However, this finding also goes a long way towards explaining the mechanism that links the obesity epidemic with lifestyle changes over the last twenty years.  [more...]   Menopause and how to survive it Menopause is not a disease and it is not something that needs to be 'cured'. Menopause is a natural process and the normal consequence of ageing that occurs because of a decrease in the function of the ovaries, which also control oestrogen production. In addition to a decrease in oestrogen levels, menopause results in decreased progesterone levels, meaning that any eggs that are released are less likely to be fertilized.  [more...]   Migraine What is a migraine? A severe migraine attack can cause a persistent throbbing or pounding pain, with sensitivity to light, sound and movement. The pain may be on just one side of the head, though there may be pressure on both. Attacks last between four and 72 hours. You may also feel nauseous, be sick, have diarrhoea, or feel exhausted.Who gets migraines? Migraines affect about 15 percent of adults. They tend to run in families, and are about twice as common in women than men.  [more...]   Pelvic floor exercises and how to do them What are Kegel exercises? Kegel, or pelvic floor muscle, exercises help to strengthen the muscles which support the urethra, bladder, uterus and rectum. Why Do Kegel Exercises? Often the pelvic floor muscles are weak which contributes to problems with losing urine.  [more...]   Shift work and how to manage your bodyclock In today's wired world, many of us work all hours of the day or night, which affects our well-being and safety. Fatigue among shift workers is an internationally recognized problem across many industries. Night workers are just as likely as day workers to perform tasks requiring attention to detail, reasoning, decision-making, and other mental skills and not just in the stereotypical roles.  [more...]   Soya and female health Many plants contain chemicals that closely resemble the female hormone oestrogen and mimic its action in the body by competing at the hormone receptor sites at a cellular level. The most well known sources of plant oestrogens (phytoestrogens) are soy products, hops, grapes, liquorice, alfalfa, Black Cohosh and pomegranates.  [more...]   The great supplement scam Are your supplements too weak to stand up to scrutiny? “Supplement capsules can vary in strength by as much as twenty times - and you only get what you pay for!” The universal wisdom that ‘you only get what you pay for’ is especially true in the market place for natural and herbal supplements. The market for supplements is awash with pile’em high, sell’em cheap retailers – in the high street, in the press and on the web.  [more...]   The science of light therapy The science of light therapy in a nutshell Our understanding of the science of light therapy is very new and expanding rapidly. Cellular biologists, biochemists, histologists, biophysicists, psychologists and psychiatrists around the world are working to improve our knowledge. At the 2006 meeting of the Society for Light Treatment and Biorhythm Research (SLBTR) in Quebec over 34 papers were presented from all branches of science.  [more...]   Top tips for a healthy gut Here are a few healthy habits that will keep you feeling well. A healthy and efficient gut is the key to good health. Without it you cannot absorb all of the essential nutrients in the food you eat. If your gut does not function smoothly then you will feel listless and lacking energy. Any symptoms such as diaorrhea, excessive wind, bloating, constipation, stomach pains, heart burn, acid reflux, irritable bowel and yeast infection (candida) are all signs that all is not well.  [more...]   Urinary Incontinence Urinary incontinence affects over 3 million women each year and an estimated 1 in 10 in every workplace.  [more...]   Vaginismus and painful sex Vaginismus is a fairly common condition especially women in their late teens to thirties.  [more...]   Water filters - frequently asked questions The best value water filter on the market The Wellness Filter is much more than a water filter. It has six unique types of high quality filtration media, while other filters have one.  [more...]   Weight and how to control it We are getting fatter and fatter Obesity is a national and global epidemic at a time when whole countries are still suffering poor diet, malnutrition and starvation. Many individuals are obsessed with their weight and looks in a Size 0 fashion-led world and the dieting industry is a proven way to help people lose pounds £££££literally.   Whilst their may be some mitigating genetic factors the cause is a lifestyle problem.  [more...]   Wellness Water Carafe The Wellness Filter utilises a revolutionary natural filtration process which replicates water's journey through the geophysical strata of the earth. The media within the filter is arranged in 9 different layers where most filters use just one.  [more...]   You are what you drink Water is the very essence of life. It covers most of the planet and makes up most of every living thing. The availability of very high quality water from every tap is a key indicator of a successful civilisation and those areas of the world without access to clean water are typically characterised as 'Third World' with the consequent poor health and high mortality. In the comfort of our own kitchen we may assume that all water is the same.  [more...]