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We’ve often been told that Mother Nature knows what’s best for us, but how many of us actually listen? In times such as these where we increasingly rely on technology and drugs for our health, perhaps we should follow this advice 

Lavender is one of those substances that has loads of uses, is easy to obtain and can make a material difference to our health 

We already know that lavender makes a great perfume, but that’s only one of it’s many uses 

The herb is readily available as an essential oil that can be added to a bath, left in a bowl to perfume a room or burnt in a specially designed lamp and even better administered through massage 

Lavender is a great relaxant, helping to ease stress and nervous tension. 

It’s one of nature’s most cost effective remedies and can be used to treat a number of ailments  

•        Migraines and headaches
•        Nervous exhaustion
•        Insomnia
•        Muscular pain
•        Digestion (who knew!!)
•        Urinary tract infection

These are just a few. The herb’s ability to boost the immune system is also an important factor Regular use of lavender oil should be done in different ways to heighten its effectiveness 

Put lavender on a cotton ball in a pillow to treat insomnia  

It’s even possible to get lavender infused pillows. Many health shops have them Lavender is definitely a female herb, capable of multitasking 

Use lavender as a perfume and apply to your temples for an additional soothing quality when struck by headaches 

Place some lavender leaves in boiling water to make a healthy herbal tea. It will help you sleep, calm your nerves and also assists with relaxing an irritated digestive system 

For those that aren’t lucky enough to have lavender in the garden, suppliers package it for medicinal, culinary and cosmetic purposes 

Lavender also works very well in combination with other herbs 

Mix it with citronella to make a great insect repellent 

It makes a wonderful massage oil in combination with a base oil such as jojoba or grapeseed 

The ability for one herb to do this much is amazing and is only a small miracle to be found in the world of nature. 

It’s time to turn our attention back to nature and learn more about how we can avoid putting chemicals into our systems   

Popularity: 83% [?]

Vitamin B is the next subject of our focus on vitamins and it’s not as simple as its counterparts. In fact there is more than one Vitamin B, ranging all the way up to 12. 

Perhaps this is why it’s called Vitamin B complex? 

Let’s make it easy to understand then and look at the overarching benefits of this complicated but essential element 

Increased and sustained energy levels are top benefits of Vitamin B 

Often cold and flu sufferers are prescribed a Vitamin B booster to help strengthen the immune system  

If you are feeling run down and are constantly tired, this is a good way to beat it Vitamin B1 through 3 are all associated with boosting energy levels. Vitamin B12 is also capable of doing this.  These vitamins all work together to increase the metabolism which leads to increased energy levels 

An increased metabolism coupled with higher energy levels make it easier to burn fat! 

Vitamin B complex makes life easier to swallow on so many levels.  

Vitamin B6 and B12 are central to the correct functioning of our nervous system. They play a key role in regulating the adrenal glands and the release of certain hormones. Insufficient levels of these substances can leave us feeling depressed

There are also digestive benefits from this group of vitamins. They assist with the production of hydrochloric acid which is essential for the breakdown of fatty foods. Vitamins B1, B2, B3 and B6 are all key roleplayers in this regard 

Vitamins from this group complement each other and need to be taken in combination 

Given that B complex vitamins are water soluble, any extra substances will be excreted through the urine 

It is therefore essential that these vitamins be taken everyday in order to ensure sustained energy and health central nervous system 

There are numerous sources of Vitamin B – in keeping with its complex nature 

•       Vitamin B1 can be found in oatmeal, whole wheat, whole brown rice, soya and meats
•       Vitamin B2 is contained in cheese, milk and vegetables
•       Vitamin B3 is sourced from fish and chicken
•       Vitamin B6 reside in whole grain foods
•       Vitamin B12 is found in protein foods such as chicken, eggs, fish, liver and dairy products 

Balanced meals are one way in which you can ensure that all of your vitamin B requirements are met or by taking a multivitamin 

For those not wanting to take multivitamins, meat is the best source and for vegetarians dairy products and free range eggs are regarded as the best sources  

One thing isn’t complicated about this vitamin group – without it the body suffers and it’s important to ensure daily intake    

Popularity: 15% [?]

Cancer is the scourge of the 21^st century as each year thousands of people are claimed by this disease.  

Many of them perfectly healthy before they were diagnosed 

There are myriad theories on how one can get the disease ranging from genetic to lifestyle choices. But one thing remains certain, the effects are usually devastating and breast cancer is no exception. 

Despite the wealth of information available on the disease, there is still an element of shame and embarrassment for many women.  

Don’t get caught in the same state of mind, this is a disease and not some form of social failing 

There is hope – the ability to perform a Breast Self Exam (BSE) is an important step  

A BSE can be conducted in the privacy of one’s own home, without having to worry about other people seeing you or knowing about your condition. More importantly than this though, it’s a tool you can use to prevent breast cancer claiming your life 

Studies have proved that BSEs conducted on a regular basis in combination with a yearly visit to the doctor, can help prevent breast cancer.  

The main way in which it does this is to catch the signs of cancer early enough for treatment to be effective.  

It is recommended that a BSE be conducted once a month 

An effective BSE can be done in five easy steps: 

1.    Look at breasts in the mirror with straight shoulders and your hands on your hips 

Breasts should be even level, normal shape, size and color 

If there is any puckering or distortion, alert your doctor 

2.    With arms raised, look for the same signs as in the step above 

3.    Now look in the mirror for any signs of fluid from the breasts 

4.    Lying down, feel each breast using opposite hands for each one.  Using a circular motion, with your fingers close together, cover a surface area of about a quarter.

Make sure you examine the whole breast in this way 

Tissue should be even, look out for lumps. Don’t be unnecessarily alarmed though, they might be tissue formations.  

5.    Do the same movements outlined in the above step, but do it while you are standing 

Performing this routine will assist in identifying breast cancer before it is too late       

Popularity: 14% [?]

Painkillers are regarded by many of us as one of modern medicines’ best discoveries. The ability to alleviate excruciating aches and discomforts assists us in meeting the challenges of our increasingly busy lives.

 But there are constant warnings about using painkillers and their harmful effects.  

The Vioxx story is an example of this.

So it’s important to ensure that we know which ones to take and to make sure that we use these remedies in the best way.

Here are some common questions we get asked all the time:

 How long is it safe for me to take painkillers? 

Generally health professionals recommend that you don’t take painkillers for longer than ten days. It is not a normal state for your body to be in and you could be suppressing pain and doing yourself further injury. This is particularly true for muscular and joint pain.

 After 10 days, if you feel no relief, it’s time to consult your health professional Do I really need to take them after food? Definitely, the chemical properties of many of the painkillers available on the market can cause damage to the lining of the stomach and the intestine. Taking them after food helps absorption by the body and ensures that damage to these important organs is at least minimised if not entirely avoided. Should I use aspirin or paracetamol? 

Paracetamol is prescribed on most occasions as a simple analgesic (pain killer) and aspirin is often prescribed in small doses to assist with the prevention of cardiovascular disease. In terms of a painkiller though, paracetamol is generally thought to be the safest

 What does ibuprofen do that’s so different to the others? 

Ibuprofen is more than an analgesic, it is also an anti-inflammatory and assists with the reduction of swelling. Those with muscular and joint injuries where swelling is evident are often provided with this medication.  It is a common drug used during menstruation by many women successfully.

 Again though, it is important to ensure that use of a drug of this nature does not go beyond ten days without consulting your health professional and ensure that you take with food.  Why are some painkillers prescription and others over the counter? 

This depends on the schedule of the drug and differs from country to country depending on how the drug regulator has defined each of their ingredients. There are a number of good brands on sale OTC though, with varying strengths.

 Make sure you take the one that is best suited to you and always be careful to read the contra-indications before making your choice.

Popularity: 14% [?]

 At this time of the year, changing seasons mean more people are vulnerable to colds and flu.  Despite the obvious advances in medical science, it seems as if there is still no foolproof cure for the common cold. Every year we go for flu vaccines and every year we still fall victim to this unpleasant illness.  So is this just a ploy on the part of big pharma companies to keep us coming back for more? If so, it seems to be working.  

Now we don’t want to undermine the effectiveness of some of the medications out there.

At least we are better off than our grandparents and the dreaded spoon of cod liver oil.

 The number of remedies on the market is mind boggling and can cause as much of a headache as the cold itself.  

Some will take away your sinus pain, but not muscular aches. Others will fix your joint pain but won’t address the blocked nasal passages. It all becomes too much and in some instances patients take as many as five different drugs to combat their various symptoms.

So what to do next and how to know which remedy to choose?

 Cardinal advice when deciding on medication is: always consult your health professional, whether it is your pharmacist, doctor or natural remedy practitioner. They are best placed to help you find the correct medication. Make sure you go to someone you can trust, with good credentials. 

But there is at least one remedy that we can recommend and you might even enjoy making it – a traditional hot toddy. We can’t discount the all remedies of our grandparents.

Here’s a great recipe that’s easy to whip up.

 Make sure that you aren’t the one doing it of course, you are the patient! 

• 50ml/2fl oz strong alcohol – such as whiskey, bourbon, brandy or rum
• 50ml/2fl oz boiling water
• Half a teaspoon of honey
• Twist of lemon, orange zest and some cloves

Mix the honey into the alcohol and add the boiling water. Add the lemon, orange zest and cloves to taste. It’s is really important to make sure that it’s as hot as possible.

The recipe can easily be changed for kids, just substitute the alcohol with tea.

 This at least is a good first step to getting better; make sure that you are also surrounded by lots of love and people waiting on you hand and foot!

Popularity: 16% [?]