For many years the peoples of the Mediterranean have used fresh olive leaves for their healing properties. The earliest known use of fresh olive leaves for medicinal purposes appears to come from the ancient Egyptians. Olive Leaf Extract acts to prevent the onset of colds, flu, and a range of viruses, yeast, fungal and mould problems, bacterial infections, and parasites. It has even been found as an effective treatment and preventive for malaria.

It has been said that a cold is three days in the coming, three days here and three more going. So who has a spare nine days?

Your immune system is your own natural defence force that protects your body against invasion by harmful bacteria, viruses, toxins and other foreign organisms. You can train and stimulate your defence force to work at its best. The best way to enhance your immune system is to have overall good health. In a nutshell, this means eating a balanced diet, drinking plenty of water, getting enough sleep, supplementing where appropriate and being able to unwind from physical and mental stress.

If you want to avoid illness or at least reduce the time and intensity of sickness this winter here are a few uncommon common sense tips to help you stay healthy, and a bit of an ‘osteopathic lecture’ to help understand HOW they help.

Aromatherapy is so much more than you might have first expected. This is a holistic therapy using extracts and essential oils in a variety of ways to increase wellbeing and support better health. Aromatherapy blends are reliable treatments for cold and flu symptoms during winter. The Medical Sanctuary Aromatherapist, Kyah Alders, has created two versatile cold and flu winter essential oil blends for you to use at home. These blends can be used in any of the ways discussed in this article.

Do you suffer heartburn or reflux even though you are taking medication for it? Don't put up with the discomfort, your doctor has other treatments that may be more effective.

Dealing with stress on a daily basis is part of being human. In small amounts it can actually be beneficial as we learn to adapt and potentially become stronger. It is when that stress becomes chronic in amounts that we can no longer handle that the nervous system goes out of balance, internal alarm bells start ringing and we begin to experience stress, mood changes and anxiety.

If you are unsure as to how you may be absorbing toxins, answer the questions in this survey and add up the number you have said ‘Yes’ to. The higher the number, the more toxic – and in need of a detox – you are likely to be.

STRESS! Can’t live with it, can’t live without it.

We all know what it’s like to be stressed; it’s an everyday occurrence, and in fact we need a certain amount of stress to survive. Even so, it can get out of hand.

When discussing stress with patients, I often use the Sabre-Tooth Tiger analogy: our body is no different biologically from what it was thousands of years ago ... when facing that tiger, we had two choices – attack or run (known as the fight / flight response). This is how we managed to survive day to day, and is why stress is necessary.

Withania has been used for some 4000 years in traditional Indian medicine and is commonly referred to as the "Ginseng of India". This is very appropriate as the variety of uses this herb is put to in Indian medicine is as great if not greater than the use of ginseng in the traditional Chinese medicine.

One of the functions of pain is to protect you and alert you to danger in the hope of preventing further damage. It is the actual unpleasantness of the pain experience that makes it so essential in our daily existence.

Alcohol and exercise are not supposed to mix. But together in the right quantities – they may actually help your heart.

A new study of cardiac health has yielded a happy formula: Start with moderate exercise, at least 30min. to 1 hr. a day and add moderate alcohol consumption. Moderate means up to one drink a day for women and up to two drinks a day for men. What do you get? A lower risk of heart disease than that of people who either drink without exercising, exercise without drinking or do neither.

The Functional Liver Detoxification Profile is a true functional test that is completely different to a blood ‘liver function test’.

In our everyday life we are exposed to and absorb harmful pollutants and chemicals which our body doesn't know what to do with. Toxins are in the air, water, food, your home, beauty products, plastics, clothes... everywhere. They aren't nutrients, they can't be broken down so your body ends up storing these toxins anywhere it can usually in your body fat, organs and other tissues.

Back in the 1920’s, miners worked hard in the coal mines of Canada. The work was back-breaking and relentless, with miners spending hoursin unnatural positions digging for coal. With no professionals to turn to, the miners sought pain relief from the vibrations of an old coal sorting machine. They would stand against the machine for twenty minutes or so and feel enormous relief from their body’s ailments. It seemed not every machine worked, just this one No one knew why this made such a differenc, they just knew it worked.

If you answer yes to any of these questions, you may be at risk of Osteoporosis.

Detoxification should include some type of skin cleansing, because our skin is one of our best eliminative organs. Skin cleanses have been performed for centuries using skin brushing, herbs, saunas and sweat lodges. Heavy metals are actually released through the skin's pores when we sweat. The theory behind skin cleanses is that toxic substances such as pesticides and drugs along with bodily wastes; for example, fats and excess inorganic minerals are often deposited in the fatty tissues below the surface of the skin.

The dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is a common garden herb, with easily recognized flowers. It is commonly referred to as the enemy of the suburban lawn. However it is not well known that it happens to be a very nutritious food and has been used for medicinal purposes since the 10th century. The leaves contain substantial levels of vitamins A, C, D, and B complex as well as iron, magnesium, zinc potassium, manganese, copper, chlorine, calcium, boron, and silicon.

The historical use of medical St. John's wort (Hypericum) is well documented. Commencing 2400 years ago St. John's wort was used as a nerve tonic, a painkiller for arthritis, menstrual cramping, gastrointestinal problems (such as diarrhea, nausea . . . ) as well as ulcers. In 350 BC, the Greek physician and writer Hippocrates prescribed the herb’s extracts for relief from such ailments as insomnia and hysteria.

Many of us have met or heard of those who have quit their job, or even quit their marriage or relationships due to ‘burnout’. Burnout is that state of mental, emotional and physical exhaustion that is both overwhelming and crippling. Many doctors now use the term ‘Chronic Fatigue Syndrome’ after excluding things such as heart disease, lung disease, liver disease, diabetes and poor sleep patterns. Let’s discuss a number of common categories of fatigue problems.

Spring! A word that conjures up new life – birds nesting, lambs being born, shoots coming through the cold winter earth, buds opening. But for some, it can signify misery. Itchy eyes, wheezing, sneezing and a constant running nose. Take heart – there are some easy steps you can take to prepare yourself for the hay fever season.

Osteopathy - Post pregnancy
Why see an Osteopath after the birth of your child?

Gardening habits that can lead to body pain.

How does being pregnant affect a woman's body?
Why do pregnant women visit an osteopath?
Why see an osteopath during pregnancy?
How does an osteopath treat a pregnant woman?

WOMEN absorb more than 5lb of chemicals from beauty products through their skin every year. A daily routine of cleansing, toning and moisturising is thought to be essential for a healthy and youthful complexion, but scientists are now raising concerns about the damage chemicals in cosmetics and toiletries are doing to our bodies.

Some women’s handbags are literally overflowing with the stuff, but research suggests that applying make-up on a daily basis could actually be bad for your health.

Make-up is supposed to improve a person’s looks, but research now suggests that women who use make-up on a daily basis are flooding their bodies with as much as 5lb of chemicals a year. A study has shown that

An expert has questioned the contents of skin care products. It takes cleanser, moisturiser, make-up and a favourite lipstick to ensure the average woman is ready to face the world. But a daily routine like this leaves her with more than a polished appearance.  She also absorbs almost 5lb of chemicals through her skin every year.

The pelvis may be viewed as 3 separate bones having 2 possible fixation areas. The first in the in the public symphysis is the anterior and inferior end and the second is the sacro-illiac joints the posterior and superior ends.

Our bodies are constantly under attack from environmental factors. Toxins are becoming a big issue of importance as our environment becomes more polluted. Most of us understand that there are pollutants in the air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink and the level and types of toxins that now surround us are far too great to list. Some of them occur naturally but most are man-made and it is these toxins that are causing the most concern.

For many years electromagnetic technology has been used in diagnostic and therapeutic devices, in both orthodox and complementary medicine. In the first half of the 20th century many of these devices were somewhat empirical and thus often considered ineffective.

Insulin Resistance Syndrome develops over time as the body slowly loses the ability to control blood sugar levels effectively.

If you have Insulin Resistance Syndrome, your blood glucose and insulin levels are higher than normal, but not high enough for a Type 2 Diabetes diagnosis to be made. Although Type 2 Diabetes usually develops if Insulin Resistance Syndrome is left untreated.

OMT is the heart and soul of osteopathy. It is what osteopathy is all about. Take away OMT form Osteopathy, and what are you left with?