Bicarbonate of soda (aka baking soda/sodium bicarbonate)

So versatile as a household cleaner, it's surprising that sodium hydrogen carbonate is used for anything else. Mix it with water and it forms a mildly alkaline solution that helps dissolve dirt and grease. Use dry, and the tiny rough particles act as a good abrasive that lifts stains from carpets and removes marks from surfaces without scratching them. As a powder, it also neutralises strong odours. For general surfaces, bicarbonate of soda is best used on a damp sponge, but for tough stains, add a little water to a tablespoonful of the powder, smear it on and leave for 20 minutes before rinsing it off. A saucer of bicarbonate of soda can deodorise your fridge. It can also do wonders for shower curtains, which are havens for micro-organisms. Used dry, the powder is also an effective toothpaste and even shampoo, although remember to brush it out afterwards or you'll look like you've seen a ghost.

Often vinegar and soda are mixed together for maximum cleaning strength. Baking powder works just as well - it's a mix of bicarbonate of soda and cream of tartar.

Cream of Tartar (or Tartaric Acid)

Cream of tartar is one of nature's bleaching agents. If you simmer a solution (1 tablespoon of Cream of Tartar in a quart of water) decolourization of aluminium pans caused by alkali such as tomato sauce, will tend to disappear.

Lemon juice

A great cleaner thanks to the citric acid it contains. The citric acid in lemon juice makes it perfect for bleaching, disinfecting, deodorising and cutting grease. When used with salt, it is especially good for cleaning copper and brass, although use it with care, as it can lighten the shade of the metal if left on for a long time or not rinsed off well. To whiten whites and brighten colours, pour a cup of juice into half a bucket of water and soak items overnight before washing as usual. Take care when using lemon juice on material that is exposed to direct sunlight as it will bleach all the more quickly. More next issue.

Have you been feeling more tired than usual - perhaps more depressed than usual? Do you remember feeling the same way this time last year - a feeling of just being "under the weather"? Now of course there could be some physical reason that a doctor should know about and perhaps do a blood test for but more than likely you literally are under the influence of the weather. I have certainly noticed myself feeling this way and at this time of year I notice more of my therapy clients complaining of this feeling of general lassitude and tiredness.

In sunnier more southerly latitudes this feeling amongst the general population is nothing like as marked as it is here during these months of December to March and that is because the body is not so starved of bright light and sun for such long periods as in our Northern latitudes.

Exercise is important to a feeling of general well being and one is less likely to get up early and go out when it is dull, rainy and windy. Although they may not feel this themselves, those that have to get up to go to work and brave the wet and windy walk to the station or drive on the motorway are the lucky ones because they are forced to get up and get out and about and get the stimulation of others about them. It is those who have no incentive to get up and out that suffer most.

GET UP AND GET OUT

Force yourself to get up in the morning and go out for a walk – even round to the shops. If you must stay in don't keep the curtains closed or the Venetian blinds half closed - open them up and get what natural light there is into the room. Do this in all the rooms so when you go from room to room you don't go from a lighter into a darker room. Have at least one very bright low energy bulb in the room you are sitting in.

If you are able to get about easily why not join an exercise class like Pilates again this a reason to get out of the house and meet people.

AROMATHERAPY

Bring a feeling of spring into your home with flowering bulbs such as Hyacinths – their sweet uplifting perfume brightens the darkest day and their pretty colours suit any style of home.

Sweet orange which is an aromatic essential oil has a balancing and soothing effect and eases anxiety and stress and is good to relieve feelings of tiredness and stress. Put five drops in your bathwater or blend 5 drops with a base oil such as sweet almond and massage your face with it inhaling deeply.

THE SEASHORE

We are so lucky living in Thanet because we have some magnificent sea shores. Just going to the cliff tops to feel the air and look at tossing seas and seeing the birds soaring over the waves is a great therapy and a tonic. Going down to the shore line and walking along the sands is excellent gentle exercise and gives a great sense of being alive.

SPRING IS ON THE WAY.

Finally as you go to sleep at night - which you will find easier to do after walking exercise and fresh air during the day, think to yourself that in a few weeks Spring will be here and the dark mornings will be over.

Jane Henry practices Holistic Therapies at The New Therapy Centre, Herbs Gardens & Health, Northdown Road, St. Peter's, Broadstairs, Kent, UK . Tel 01843 600201
 

Amanda made a stunning bride at St. Phillip’s Church on 23rd December 2006!

She married Terry, her partner of 17 years, and their four children all had a part to play in the delightful proceedings! Their youngest, Rebecca, can be seen behind Amanda in the picture. She was a tiny baby in a pram when we first opened, as some of you may remember!

Getting Married? Take a good B-Complex and use Rescue Remedy for pre-wedding stress and nerves! Take Guarana or Ginseng for extra energy and libido on the day!
 

Until a fortnight ago I had never had a massage in my life! Jane Henry is often in and out massaging people in our Therapy Room, and they always come out of there saying how wonderful their massage was and how relaxed they feel!

I swim every morning, and my ears have been blocked for a while, so I booked with Jane to have Hopi Ear Candling and a head and neck massage. Jane said that I would feel so much better for a full body massage, so I went for it!

What a luxury! Jane is excellent at her job, professional and makes you feel very comfortable. I had both treatments again today and my ears and head feel so much clearer now, not to mention my shoulders, neck and all the rest of me!

I would thoroughly recommend Jane; you, like myself, deserve to be pampered! By Juliet Brazil 22/1/2007
 

Sometimes the winter can drag us down a bit. The aftermath of coughs, colds and flu can leave us feeling a bit jaded. Try a tonic like Biostrath to help pick you up a bit. Chlorella or Barleygrass are good for extra energy and will help cleanse your system. This is the time of year when we often think about Detoxifying our bodies (ask instore for a copy of "A Guide to Detox and Diet").

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) can help tremendously to help jog those unwanted toxins out of your body. A gentle MLD treatment consists of a series of rhythmic on/off pressure movements applied to the skin, which will help to move the lymph through the body to the nearest nodes, it filters away any waste and returns the freshly filtered lymph to re-enter the bloodstream, leaving the body clear and boosting the immune system to fight infection. It also helps to increase your energy levels, improve your blood circulation, help with stress and fatigue, and has a positive effect on the nervous system, helping to reduce pain and relaxing the client. First treatment and consultation is £45, follow up treatments are £40.

A few weeks before Amanda got married, she had MLD with Susan and found that the weight dropped off her so much afterwards that she actually had to change her wedding dress for a smaller one!

Susan Relph is a full member of the British Manual Lymph Drainage Association and treats in our Therapy Room at Herbs, Gardens & Health. To arrange an appointment, call Susan on 01322 335399.


 

The healing powers of honey have been well known since Pythagoras' time. We suck honey lozenges to soothe our throats; we stir in a spoonful to sweeten hot drinks when we're sick. Now, some scientists believe that one particular kind, manuka honey, has antibacterial properties that may be used to help treat everything from skin conditions to digestive disorders.

Manuka honey is made by bees that collect pollen from the manuka bush, a member of the myrtle family. It can be taken internally - doctors recommend one teaspoonful before food - or applied neat to the skin. Only sterilized honey, intended for medical use, should be used on wounds.

Manuka honeys below UMF (unique manuka factor) 10 are recommended for maintaining general health and good digestion. UMF10 to UMF15 may help with indigestion, heartburn and diarrhoea. They can also be used externally on cuts, grazes, burns, fungal infections and wounds if sterilized. UMF20 can help treat gastroenteritis and stomach ulcers.

In the UK, come the 1st of July 2007, smoking will be banned in all sorts of places by law. People will not even be allowed to smoke in company vehicles that are in shared use.

Workers will not be able to smoke in any part of the premises - smoking rooms will be illegal.

Now is the time to give up, or to help your family and friends give up, before the crunch time comes. We have some excellent supplements, such as “Stressless�, Craving Essence, or New Era No.6 to help kick the habit. You can also book an appointment in our Therapy Room with our Hypnotherapist, Lynne Kelly. She can help you with smoking cessation, weight loss, exam/test anxiety, addictions, self-esteem, stress reduction, pain management, phobias and so much more….

Lynne is a Qualified Hypnotherapist B.H.A. cert. Call her now on 07939 935657 to make an appointment.
 

Turmeric - one of the key ingredients in many curries, the root and rhizome (underground stem) of the plant are used medicinally. Turmeric is thought to reduce inflammation by lowering histamine levels and possibly by increasing production of natural cortisone by the adrenal glands. A preliminary trial in people with rheumatoid arthritis found curcumin, contained within turmeric, to be somewhat useful for reducing inflammation and symptoms such as pain and stiffness. A separate double-blind trial found that curcumin was superior to placebo or phenylbutazone (a prescribed anti-inflammatory) for alleviating post-surgical inflammation. Unlike some other anti-inflammatories, turmeric has been seen to help with some stomach complaints.

Boswellia - from a purified resin extract taken from an Indian tree; studies have shown that boswellic acids have an anti-inflammatory action. The action is thought to be due to the inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators; that is, chemicals that lead to inflammation within the body. Long-term use of boswellia does not appear to cause irritation or ulceration of the stomach.

Bromelain - this is a digestive enzyme derived from the stem of pineapples. Much of bromelain's anti-swelling effect is thought to be due to activating compounds that break down a substance called fibrin. Fibrin forms a matrix that walls off an area of inflammation, resulting in blockage of blood vessels, inadequate tissue drainage, and swelling. Double-blind research has found bromelain effective in reducing swelling, bruising, and it has been reported to help patients with rheumatoid arthritis in preliminary research. One preliminary report however indicates increased heart rate with the use of bromelain. In addition, some people are allergic to bromelain.

New Zealand green lipped mussel extract has been shown in numerous studies to help reduce the pain and swelling associated with arthritis. Although the mechanism by which this may work is unclear, it is thought that the mussels contain fatty acids and glycoproteins that play important roles in the mediation of the inflammatory process. Some people have been known to react adversely to certain types of mussel extract and people with a shellfish allergy should be wary.
 

After all the sweet things we have indulged ourselves in through the winter, we can find ourselves craving more and finding it difficult to cut down. Here are some helpful hints:

1.Because most cravings fall under the carbohydrates category, substituting unrefined carbs for treats laden with white sugar and/or flour helps break the downward spiral of food addictions: a rapid spike in blood sugar, followed by a quick free-fall that makes you crave yet more sugar. Break the cycle of short-lived pick-me-ups with vegetables, fruits and whole grains.

2. The "exercise high" can be more sustainable than sugar highs. Regular exercise helps your body to produce more serotonin, which helps reduce stress and can give you a better night’s sleep. Plus, exercise improves the body's natural ability to regulate blood-sugar levels.

3. Less obvious, a third way to conquer cravings involves reducing inflammation. Inflammation sidetracks the hormone leptin from doing what it does best–shutting off cravings. An anti-inflammatory diet high in fruits, vegetables, proteins, omega-3 fatty acids, and spices like turmeric keeps leptin on task and cravings to a minimum.