It’s increasingly clear that natural skin care – indeed, reducing the number of chemicals we use, both in our food or on our faces – is the most healthy & sustainable lifestyle that any of us can choose. But it can feel tough to make the transition. The natural approach still has a reputation for being messier, less efficient.

It is a lifestyle change, for sure. Natural beauty is about more than switching ingredients & slapping avocado pulp on your face once a week. Drinking more water really does improve my complexion. After I quit smoking, I stopped looking exhausted & grey within a fortnight. If I fall off my healthy eating wagon & spend a few days snarfling cheese, caffeine & sugar, my skin quickly tells me to stop – by getting sore, flakey & oily within 48 hours.

Once you’ve taken care of yourself naturally for a while, though, you begin to recognise that it’s far easier to stay healthy than it is to constantly compensate for self-neglect with endless product experiments & an ever more complicated beauty regime. Don’t roll your eyes – I still go out & party. But your body reacts much more elastically to a night of gin & tonic (or whatever) if you’re filling it with water & veg the rest of the week, & not forcing it to process unnecessary toxins that don’t actually feel much fun at all, if you’re completely honest with yourself.

You also start to notice that the healthier your routine, the fewer blemishes you get. It’s tougher if you’ve any sort of scarring (although even that will benefit from constant rehydration, plenty of vitamins & using products that don’t make it worse by drying your skin or blocking your pores) but for many people, this healthy new complexion brings greater confidence & requires less foundation. This means less frequent scrubbing & cleansing, giving your skin the chance to stay balanced & take care of itself for longer.

Some products will still be necessary, of course, especially if you enjoy dressing up & wearing makeup, but it’s increasingly easy to find decent, affordable skincare cleanser & moisturiser with natural ingredients. When you need a deeper cleanse, it’s actually good fun & really easy to knock a facemask together from kitchen ingredients.

My favourite recipe is:

Oats, banana, yoghurt & honey facemask

which I use once or twice a month. My pores are immediately smaller & my skin feels fresh & healthy straight afterwards. The next day, I usually get a couple of whiteheads where any pimples or infections were brewing.

For one average-sized face, use:

2 teaspoons of porridge oats

Quarter of a ripe banana

2 teaspoons of natural yoghurt

1 teaspoon of runny honey

Stir them together gently to form a smooth paste with ingredients evenly distributed throughout.

Tie your hair back! You don’t have to wash your face first, but it works best if you do. Don’t moisturise, & you definitely shouldn’t be wearing makeup for this.

Smooth the mixture over your face & relax until it’s nearly dry, but not tight or crispy.

NB: the oaty bits can sometimes fall off while the mask is drying. They wash out of fabric, but getting them off soft furnishings can be tedious.

When it’s time to remove the mask, soak a face cloth in warm water & just hold it against your face to soften the mixture, which can then be wiped gently away without over-scrubbing your skin.

Oats reduce inflammation, soothe dry itchy skin & are completely hypoallergenic.

Bananas are packed with minerals & antioxidants, & also reduces inflammation.

Yoghurt contains lactic acids & enzymes that smooth & soothe the skin.

Honey is anti-bacterial, moisturising & great at absorbing impurities from the skin.

You can use any combination of these ingredients as a facemask.

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The new law comes as the result of concerns in professional medical circles regarding the adverse or conflicting effects of some ‘natural’ medicines.  For example, ginseng and ginkgo may contradict the effects of blood-thinners, and St. John’s Wort can interfere with the efficacy of birth control pills.  The idea is that herbal medicines should be treated like any prescription medicine, with careful attention to possible side effects and proper dosage.

Up until now, medicinal herbal products generally had little or no regulation as far as consumer warnings about side effects or maximum safe dosages, and while some of them offered the information on the package, others with identical ingredients did not.  Consumers often choose the one with no warnings, on the assumption that no news is good news and the product is safe.

Makers and practitioners of herbal medicines claim that the new law could drive many of them out of business due to the cost of complying with licensing requirements.  The Alliance for Natural Health (ANH) estimated that the cost of licensing ranges between £80,000 and £120,000 for each herb, and many of these natural remedies contain several different herbal extracts.  They say the only ones who can afford the testing involved are big companies with a single-ingredient product.

Under the EU regulations, products already in distribution can continue to be sold until their expiry date.  However, when that happens and customers can’t get them from licensed practitioners, the fear is that an internet ‘black market’ will spring up, putting consumers at even greater risk.

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Spa Resorts, day-spas and spa-clubs offer a range of treatments for the face and the body aiming to relax and revive your body and mind.

Whether you opt for a traditional spa therapy such as thalassotherapy or mud therapy, or for just a simple massage or exfoliation treatment, you are looking to satisfy a deep human need, the need for rest and recovery from the pressures of everyday life. It is not surprising and definitely not a coincidence that the spa industry together with holistic medicine have undergone a massive boom in the last 20 years. The 21^st century man and woman are deeply concerned about their well-being. The rapid development of psychology in recent years aspects has made us all realize that all areas of our lives are affected by how good we feel. If we are not well, if we are stressed or overworked, the body will react and this will backfire back into our everyday life.

The body is a complex and fragile system. Any problem in any part of it, even if that’s the skin, the back, the hair, may be an indication that we are pressured, stressed or unhappy. In fact recent psychological research emphasizes the importance of combining therapeutic treatments such as spa, massages and even hair and nail treatments with psychological therapies. Looking after your body boosts the morale and puts you in a better frame of mind. Imagine the difference between starting your day with a back-rub instead of rushing to the tube with a cup of take-away coffee. Imagine how much better it would make you feel to end your day with a facial aromatherapy massage instead of in front of the TV, thoughtlessly chewing a ready meal. In fact a simple massage has been shown to help regulate heart rate, blood pressure and hormonal release.

So why not start looking after yourself today? The best time to have a spa is spring, a time of growth and new life! Especially if you live in a busy city like London, you will need the rejuvenation after a long grey winter. To find out where the best spa deals are in London, visit the online-shopping site http://www.kelkooselect.co.uk. By signing up to the free service, you will receive KelkooSelect spa deals in and around London daily.

You can find great deals, from ordinary spa deals, such as head rubs, detox, exfoliation and tension-release to the most progressive treatments such as Garra Rufa fish pedicure, caviar massage, golfball massage or extra-olive oil wraps!

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Arranging a holiday has never been easier thanks to travel websites, which you can visit at any time of the day. You can now book flights for your holiday from the comfort of your own home on websites such as fly.com. There you can compare the cost of routes to various destinations around the world, before selecting the dates you wish to travel on just like you would at a travel agent. In short, all of your travel needs can be taken care of with just a couple of clicks of your mouse.

One area of the world that you may wish to book flights to is South East Asia, as there are few destinations which are home to such relaxing environments. If you’re after Vietnam and Cambodia travel, then you can rest assured that there are routes available at different times and plenty of airports you can fly to in both countries. Whichever you decide on, though, be sure to explore the rest of the country as well so that you don’t miss out on anything that Vietnam and Cambodia have to offer.

Vietnam and Cambodia are both ideal countries for a relaxing break in which all your troubles will seem like they’re a world away. The stresses of working life won’t even cross your mind as you look out over the Vietnamese coastline or stroll through the natural beauty of the Cambodian countryside.

Angkor Wat is a particularly beautiful landmark in Cambodia. Visitors to the site are presented with stunning historic architecture and the  tranquillity of the surrounding moat. The Hindu temple is a truly magnificent sight and the history of the structure will leave you fully impressed.

A trip to the Far East can be really beneficial for your health, and after a relaxing holiday in South East Asia, your stress levels will be brought right down. As you explore the Asian cities and take in the interesting culture, you won’t be at all anxious and won’t want your holiday to come to an end. By spending the days taking in beautiful views and enjoying a great night’s sleep in a comfortable hotel once the sun has set, you will be totally relaxed and your batteries fully recharged for when you get back home.

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The herpes cold sore virus can be picked up from one simple kiss with an infected person, which is why over 30 million people in the UK carry the virus.

For many, once they get the virus, they experience regular outbreaks of cold sores, sometimes as often as once a month and especially during the summer as the sun itself is a major trigger. Some people feel so self-conscious about their cold sores that during an outbreak they feel unable to socialise or be intimate with partners.

Liquorice Balm helps reduce such regular outbreaks. Unlike conventional treatments, due to its naturally derived ingredients, suffers can wear the lip balm at all times, meaning that the intensity of the cold sore outbreaks could be diminished before they really have a chance to take hold.

The key cold sore fighting ingredient in liquorice is glycyrrhizic acid (GA). GA specifically targets the genes that are required to maintain the virus in its latent state by interfering with the production of special proteins that feed the infected cells. Recent research published in the US Journal of Clinical Investigation has shown that liquorice actually has the ability, in some cases, to eradicate the cold sore virus which lies dormant in between outbreaks.

Liquorice Balm can be rubbed into lips as often as necessary and not only does it help reduce cold sore outbreaks and their intentsity, it is also a nourishing balm that helps keep lips well-conditioned and smelling candy-shop sweet.

Liquorice Balm costs £10.99 for 30g call: 0844 7009975 or visit www.skinshop.co.uk

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As therapeutics to treat various illnesses and neuropsychiatric disorders , including depression, anxiety, attention deficit, hyperactivity, autism, backpain, abnormal noise or tinnitus in the ear, post-traumatic stress, phantom pain in people who have suffered the amputation of limbs or central nervous system injuries, migraine headache, decreased libido, some cases of schizophrenia and epilepsy, and disorders of sleep, obsessive-compulsive, bipolar and uni and, among others.

Also, today is known to have neuroprotective effects that help, at least temporarily, to people affected by neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson disease and the Alzheimer’s disease and that a very favourable impact on the modulation of the plasticity brain, which refers to the brain’s capacity to renew or reconnect neural circuits and thus acquire new skills and abilities and to preserve the memory.

Consists of the selective depolarization of these neurons in the neocortex or cerebral cortex, located between 1.5 and 2 cm below the skull, using pulsed magnetic intensities specific, unique or regular repetitive. This practice is called Transcraneana Repetitive Magnetic Stimulation .

Depolarization due to the aforementioned principle of electromagnetic induction discovered by M. Faraday.

From the therapeutic perspective, there is already a large number of studies showing that the two aspects of magnetic stimulation Transcraneana, EMT and TRMS are the great virtues of being safe but not harmless, that it is effective but can be scheduled as safe, but several measures taken to ensure such security.

The main contraindications for that treatment has are: women in gestation period, children under six years, and people with pacemakers, electrodes or drug infusion pumps, or with metal plates, wires or screws in the head.

Moreover, some patients undergoing cortical stimulation is experiencing some side effects after application, which can be regarded as minor and transient, such as headache (headache), which can be mitigated with common analgesics. There are also health blog reports that people suffering from epilepsy or take antidepressants epileptogenicos, might get to seizures during treatment with magnetic Transcraneanial stimulation.

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A couple of examples for clearing the nose and throat are as follows.

Using a combination of concentrated antiviral red propolis, rosemary and eucalyptus essential oils can help free a blocked nose. The ingredients  act together as an antiviral, anti-inflammatory, decongestant and expectorant thus helps to free up the nose, relieve the throat and boost resistance.

A recent clinical study conducted on 430 patients appears to show the effect of concentrated propolis on Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) disorders is increased when accompanied with vitamin C. The authors also suggest that the decrease in viral and bacterial concentrations in the nose and throat may be attributed to the anti-inflammatory and decongestant properties of the product in which concentrated propolis is combined with vitamin C.

A combination of antibacterial brown propolis, rosemary and eucalyptus essential oils can help bring throat relief. The constituents act together as an antibacterial expectorant that helps to ease an infected respiratory tract, help you cope when your cold ‘goes to your chest’ and help prevent more serious complications including bronchitis and pneumonia. The syrup is particularly soothing to sore throats and both capsules and syrup are suitable for children and adults. In one study, a team of researchers highlighted that a preparation based on concentrated brown propolis and vitamin C greatly reduced the number and severity of airway infections in a study conducted on 430 people using placebos.

Propolis is a natural resin collected by bees from plants that has been recognised for decades for its antiviral and antibacterial properties. Due to its biochemical complexity, it has multiple properties and has shown to be antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-viral and anti-bacterial. Its effects appear to be both preventive and therapeutic and particularly well adapted for the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections.

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