hayfever

hayfever is something that i have never suffered from, but in the last few years i have found myself sneezing and snuffling, especially around this time of year.  I am not sure what causes mine, but the onset of blossom or grasses definitely is a trigger .   however, i have started early this year, taking a hayfever remedy specially mixed by Lemon Balm www.lemonbalmonline.com, its a tincture that you take twice a day, or there is a tea that Paula makes that you can brew and drink.

did you know that eating a spoonful of local honey is also meant to be a good remedy for hayfever ?  i buy the local regents park honey and it does seem to help – search for your local honey, you will be surprised to see how many of your local parks creates its own honey.   you can buy regents park honey from Melrose and Morgan.  its expensive, but then i find that most good honey is expensive.  remember to buy your own local honey though to your area for hayfever.

the natural bioflavonoid quercetin also acts as an antihistamine;  and apparently drinking nettle tea curbs hay fever.  if you take the quercetin with more vitamin C, it improves absorption.   using happinose, a balm that you put round the tip of your nostrils really does help with a runny nose, it apparently stops the spores from entering through your nostrils, sticking to the product rather than penetrating.  another great place to find natural remedies is napiers – its available online and is a great source of information for help with most ailments.

excema and dry skin

if you have suffer from dry skin, especially in the winter months – remember the central heating being on doesnt help, but if you put a glass of water by your radiator this will help put back moisture into the air -  then there are lots of different products out there, other than cortisone cream.  my daughter has always suffered in the creases of the arms, ever since she was little, and i have tried so many different types.  I am quite a natural person, white witch my son calls it, but generally i try to use natural products to cure illnesses first, then if i have to resort to the chemical stuff, fine.  the best of all the products i have tried for dry chapped skin is Napiers, Infant Starflower cream – its soothing, penetrative and doesnt sting.  Calendula cream can sting excema, and therefore make it look redder.  Another good one is Stellaria cream by Neale’s Yard, or Aloe Vera moisturiser from B Natural Skincare, which is equally as good for any part of your body and Goats milk cream from Elegance.  For general everyday use, shower gel, body cream,  aveeno, seems gentle enough and is affordable to just use generously all over the body.  Remember that hair products, shampoo, conditioner, and especially hair dye all contain chemicals and can cause allergic reactions – it was one of the main culprits in my daughter’s case – liz earle products are very good for people with sensitive skin, as is australian organics for the hair.  As with all creams, i tend to think that your skin gets use to all creams and changing is always a good thing, as your skin responds to new things.  Of course, everybody is different and they react to things differently, but natural is worth a try and none of the above are very expensive, so worth a try.

meditation classes

i have wondered about meditation classes – apparently they work wonders for bouts of insomnia or for those times when you wake in the night for 2 hours and start fretting about how tired and terrible you are going to feel when you eventually have to get up.  i finally got down to alchemy yoga centre in the stables in camden  – they have an introductory offer, £15 for 7 days and you can try as many classes as you want to see which ones that you like.   it really is a different type of yoga to triyoga – much more spiritual, concentrating on mind, breath as well as body.   i loved the yin yoga class with Tori, which is a simple stretching and breathing class, but quite meditative as well.    i tried the circle for inner peace class and when i was told that you sit still with your eyes shut for 20 mins, i panicked – i dont think that i have ever sat still for 20 mins in my life!  however, the hour just flew by,  my mind was filled with what to do next, or what shall i cook for dinner – but i must admit, i did feel serene and rested at the end of it! the circle studio is a lovely peaceful room, and there is an organic cafe there too – a bit of a haven amidst all the hustle and bustle of camden market.

healthy ears

i dont know whether you ever get blocked ears from wax and then suffer partial deafness after swimming, travelling on airplanes, washing your hair, but it can really be a pain.  i have tried all the methods of drops, olive oil etc..  which can take several days to clear,  but the most efficient, painless and quickest method has to be microsuction.  i discovered the clear ear clinic last year and it definitely clears your ears immediately and unlike syringing does not seem to allow the build up to develop so fast.

cranial osteopath

if you are feeling under the weather, or your body is aching,  then maybe you ought to check your body alignment – maybe you have pulled something without realising? or there is an old injury?   claudia is brilliant at helping you to get back to health.  not only is she a qualified cranial osteopath and naturopath, but she is also an expert in pilates and yoga.  her healing hands put your body back into alignment without physical yanking. www.claudianella.com

 

mosquito bites

you know what i hate with heat – mosquito bites!  they were such a pain on holiday.  next time i go away somewhere exotic, i vow to try  taking b12 vitamins – apparently mosquitos dont like them.    we tried everything, from citronella oil, lavender and mosiguard but ended up using jungle formula – so much for my natural organic products!  for something natural to stop the swelling and itching, try a mixture of german chamomile, lavender and melissa oil – pour a few drops into some almond oil – it really does help.  otherwise good old benadryl cream definitely does help (it depends how natural you want to be).  also taking the homeopathic remedy apis is a great help, the problem is you need to travel totally prepared and so your medicine bag becomes heavier than the rest of your luggage.  to go back to homeopathy, i now take a couple of pulsatilla pills as the plane ascends and descends and i find that this definitely helps with the pain in your ears.    arnica is also a great remedy for jetlag – for a great homeopath, try Carole Ingram Tel: 020 7431 7768 / 07790 243220

Email: carolehomeopath@btinternet.com

triyoga chelsea

yoga and pilates still seems popular – i personally try to do at least one pilates class a week, either Yalkuln or Maika’s classes at primrose hill.  now triyoga has expanded to include chelsea, as well as having a studio in soho and covent garden.  means that there is no excuse for finding a good class near to you.

i have also noticed that charlotte colwell has started to offer her wonderful beauty treatments using the organic eminence products in both primrose hill and chelsea triyoga.

sleep

sleep has to be the best beauty tip, but how many times  have  you either gone to bed shattered, tossed and turned and not able to go to sleep.  Or have you  fallen asleep quickly then awoken at 3am, again tossing and turning, with long lists of what to do on your mind.

through sheer experience i have tried the following natural methods:   lavender oil under your pillow, put a few drops on a handkerchief or lavender bag, amethyst stone by my pillow – amethyst is meditative and calming , Bach remedies white chesnut – a few drops in water to help take away unwanted thoughts just before you go to sleep,   quiet life herbal tablets by Lanes seem to promote sleep by taking away worry and stress;  night time tea by pukka is soothing to drink , from wholefoods, but at the moment, my favourite is sleepy tea made by Lemon Balm, which is a mixture of fresh herbs that you steep in boiling water and drink before you go to bed.  www.lemonbalmonline.com

osteopath

if you are feeling under the weather, or your body is aching,  claudia is brilliant at helping you to get back to health.  not only is she a qualified cranial osteopath and naturopath, but she is also an expert in pilates and yoga.  her healing hands put your body back into alignment.www.claudianella.com

fields of rapeseed

thanks to one of my readers i have found something really simple to help with my streaming nose and the tree pollen – happinose balm – which is basically a vaseline with natural essential oils and menthol.  it moisturises your skin and really helps with decongesting.  give it a go, it works for me.   you can get it at any boots or pharmacy.