Herbal Remedies for Common Ailments

Herbal remedies for common ailments are available at your local supermarket, says Philip Weeks, an expert in natural medicine.

Many of us have a few herbs in our garden - or wilting in a pot on the kitchen windowsill - that we use to add flavour to a sauce or roast dinner, writes Jill Foster. But these inauspicious plants may have far more significant uses when it comes to pepping up our health.

It is estimated £126million is spent on herbal medicine in Britain each year, and a poll in 2008 revealed that 35 per cent of Britons have tried shop-bought natural remedies.

So could the answer to common illnesses be as simple as a trip to the supermarket? We spoke to Philip Weeks, an expert in natural medicine, about the everyday herbs with healing properties. Read more

Weight Training Could Changle Your Life

Many women shy away from weight training. But Naomi Alderman says it has transformed her body.

There's a weightlifting area in my gym – not just the rows of dinky handweights by the stretching mats, but the bit with the squat cage, the bench press and the machine where, with both hands, you pull down weights the size of hefty toddlers. I haven't used it – yet – but I'm going to. I've been weight training since last year and every session takes me a bit closer to the end of the handweights and the start of serious lifting. I'm looking forward to it in a way I've never looked forward to exercise before.

Personal trainers, however nice, give me PE teacher flashbacks. I'm not co-ordinated so the group classes that others seem to find fun and sociable – "step up, touch down, change legs, grapevine, step change and shimmy" – just leave me feeling clumsy and frustrated. But I can pick up an easily graspable heavy metal object, lift it slowly and then put it down again. Not only can I do it: I find I love it. Read more

Is a Chocolate Milkshake the Ideal Post-Workout Recovery Drink?

Cyclists who drank a low-fat chocolate milkshake after exercise rode faster with more power compared to those who had sports drinks, said University of Texas scientists.

After an exhausting session on the treadmill, many athletes reach for an isotonic sports drink or good old-fashioned water.

But two new studies from The University of Texas at Austin show that a chocolate milkshake is the ideal post-workout recovery drink. Read more

Is Meditation Better Than Pills for Chronic Pain?

Could improving your meditation technique cure chronic pain? It's may be worth contemplating.

Chronic pain is estimated to affect over 76 million people, more than diabetes and heart disease combined, and back pain is our country's leading cause of disability for people under 45. And though the pharmaceutical industry seems very adept at introducing one new painkiller after another, the pills don't always help. A new study in the Journal of Neuroscience, however, suggests something else might: meditation. It seems that improving your meditation technique could very well be more effective than painkillers at cutting down on pain, and that could save you hundreds in prescription drug costs. Read more

Apple Cider Vinegar Health Drink

Apple cider vinegar can be used to make a delicious and healthful pick-me-up drink. The brand shown in the video, which can be found in any health food store, is the best to use.

Electrolytes: What Are They and Why Are They So Good for Us?

What are electrolytes and why are they so good for us? Dr. Edward Groups explains and tells how to get them naturally.

Electrolytes are ionic solutions (salts), existing in nature in the form of minerals. Electrolytes are responsible for keeping the body properly hydrated so the muscles and nerves can function properly.

Since the human body is composed mostly of water, it is important that we take in adequate amounts of these minerals. What is more, when we are well-hydrated, we are able to release toxic internal wastes such as harmful chemicals, urea and ammonia.

The essential electrolytes most commonly found in the human body are sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, chloride, calcium, and phosphates.

Why Are Electrolytes So Important?

When the kidneys are functioning properly, they are able to regulate concentrations of these vital minerals, in conjunction with fluid levels in the body. As we go about the day, and particularly when we exercise, much of the body’s precious fluid (and mineral electrolytes) are lost. We can also lose these vital salts through our lungs when we breath, as well as through urination, vomiting, going to the bathroom (especially diarrhea), and through the liquid content of wounds. Read more

Could a Pill Made from Olive Leaves Help Beat Heart Disease?

Scientists say that a pill made of olive leaves could be a powerful weapon against heart disease. However, you don't need to wait for years of clinical trials to be completed to benefit. Olive leaf extract is available in health food stores right now.

A pill made from the leaves of the olive tree could be a powerful weapon in the fight against heart disease, scientists say.

According to research, the olive pill is as effective as some prescription medicines at reducing high blood pressure.

And it also appears to lower levels of harmful blood fats, called triglycerides, known to raise the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Read more