7 Ways to Prevent Chronic Headaches

Did you know that headaches are one of the leading types of chronic pain? A headache may sound like a fairly minor ailment, but chronic headaches can be debilitating to the people who suffer from them almost every day. Dr. Mark Wiley reveals the "integrated mind-body approach" he devised to relieve his chronic headaches.

... After personally suffering from painful migraines for nearly 30 years, I devised an “integrated mind/body approach” to prevent headaches of all kinds from taking hold in the body. Indeed, the key to ending headache pain is proactive avoidance of its causes rather than reactive treatment of its symptoms.

Major headache triggers include chemicals in food and beverages and even toxins in the body and air, as well as harboring stress and missing sleep. In order to reestablish cellular balance, one must remove the toxins and stressors that tax the body or learn to deal with them in new ways. For most people, this means a major lifestyle change. Here are seven ways to start: Read more

How do you keep your children and yourself from getting sick? Be proactive with Vitamin D, probiotics, and immune boosters, says Margaret Durst.

‘How do I keep my kids from getting sick?’ is a question I get asked a lot this time of year. I think it is an important question for adults as well as kids – especially as we head into the holidays. It always seems to me that some of the worst cold and flu outbreaks occur right after the holidays.

I have several theories. The first is about exchanging bugs (virus and bacteria) with our cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, etc. The second theory is our exposure to extremely rich food, upsetting our digestive tract which holds a significant part of our immunity. The third theory is about cold cloudy days without enough sunlight which reduces our daily vitamin D levels.

I don’t get very concerned about my first theory. It is a necessary part of family life which I wouldn’t want to be without. So see if you can have the biggest Christmas ever and make sure you see everyone you are even remotely kin to. Follow the advice below to keep your immune system tuned up so that the virus and bacteria do not take hold in your system. Read more

How to Avoid Packing on Holiday Pounds

Men's Health magazine's Matt Bean tells how to enjoy holiday eating while avoiding packing on the pounds.

It's easy to gain weight during the holidays, at all those parties and big dinners.

But, says Men's Health magazine Senior Editor Matt Bean, you can enjoy yourself without expanding your waistline by eating right. You just have to know what to eat, and what not to.

Men's Health is out with a book called "Eat This, Not That," a guide to the good and bad foods in your life, geared toward helping you make smart food choices all year. And Bean says the holiday season is a case in point. Read more

4 Myths about Arthritis

There are many misconceptions that surround arthritis. Learn the difference between the facts and the myths about arthritis.

A common misconception about arthritis is that it is an inevitable part of ageing. In fact, while osteoarthritis (OA) - the most common form of the disease - does tend to affect older people, it is not caused by ageing and it does not affect everyone. And there are increasing numbers of younger sufferers.

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Here, Philip Conaghan, professor of musculoskeletal medicine at the University of Leeds, debunks myths about the condition. Read more

Sage: The Natural Antiseptic

Do you need an antiseptic around the home but are loathe to use potent antiseptic agents? Sage is an extremely effective natural antiseptic that can be used to treat a number of conditions.

Sage is found in most kitchens as it is a favorite herb especially when cooking poultry.

It is a useful herb that not only adds aroma and flavor to your food but is also of medicinal use.

It has been used since the ancient times as an antiseptic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, astringent and anti-ageing herb.

Sage is a natural antiseptic herb that can be used to treat a number of conditions. Read more

Have a Healthy, Herbal Christmas

Victoria Lambert reveals the medicinal properties of ten seasonal plants.

From the holly and the ivy to mistletoe and myrrh, it wouldn't be the festive season without traditional plants. But increasingly doctors think they could offer practical benefits year round.

James Wong, an ethnobotanist and presenter of this week's festive edition of BBC Two's Grow Your Own Drugs, says: "The natural benefits of our favourite Christmas plants are being uncovered all the time. But we can learn a lot from the past, too. Cherokee Indians, for instance, used to drink an infusion of spruce needles to help them stave off scurvy and keep the airways open."

However, you need to be careful when building a festive apothecary – mistletoe, for instance, is highly poisonous to humans. "You might want to stick to mince pies," says Wong. "You can't go far wrong with a dose of nutmeg and cinnamon." Read more

A Glass or Two of Champagne Really Does Lift the Heart

Champagne made with black grapes shares the benefits of red wine for heart and blood circulation, scientists have found.

Fizz made with black grapes shares benefits of red wine for heart and blood circulation, scientists find


Scientists are delivering some unexpected cheer this Christmas. They have found that a couple of glasses of champagne a day are good for your heart and blood circulation.

Nor, they believe, are the benefits limited to expensive fizz: cheaper alternatives such as cava and prosecco may offer similar effects. Read more