Constipation is common in pregnancy as the hormones, which prepare the muscle of pelvis for labour,can slow the digestive processes down. Adjusting your diet can often help mild constipation. Increases your intake of fluids (especially water), fruit and vegetables, go easy on wheat products (as the gluten can have a clogging effect) and avoid iron tablets unless prescribed by your GP.

Any lasting changes in your usual pattern of bowel movements should be assessed professionally but for a simple case of constipation in pregnancy, try one of the following remedies:

Bryonia: large, hard dry stools which are difficult to expel; often with a headache which is worse for the slightest movement. You are irritable.

Nux vomica: frequent urging to pass a stool but in spite of straining, passing only small amounts each time; it feels as if some is left behind; piles that may itch and bleed.

Sepeia:straining to pass a large, hard stool; your stomach feels full and there is a sensation of a lump in the rectum that may remain even after passing a stool. You feel generally sluggish.

Sulphur: constipation with piles that itch and burn and are worse for heat. You are generally restless, thirsty and sensitive to the heat.

What about diet?

During pregnancy, it is especially important to eat well from a wide range of foods, as this will provide you with the extra trace minerals and vitamins that you need. If you are on a restricted diet or wish to take vitamin and mineral supplements, then it is important that you do take professional nutritional advice avoid smoking and alcohol as these have been shown to damage your health and that off your unborn child. Be sure to get plenty of rest and sleep and to exercise regularly. Yoga has been found to be particularly helpful during pregnancy. Increase your intake of iron-rich foods to keep up with an increased demand. Foods rich in iron include green, leafy vegetables, blackstrap molasses, dried peaches and apricots,beans and lentils, whole grains, seeds (sunflower and pumpkin), and eggs.    

Vitamin C can help the body to absorb iron so take a fresh citrus drink with a meal to increase your iron intake. Avoid tea, especially with a meal as it actually prevents iron from being absorbed. Iron tablets often have side effects such as constipation so ask your homeopath about homeopathic alternatives if you need extra iron are not able to get it from your diet. 

Many of the above foods (especially black-eye beans and blackstrap molasses) are also high in folic acid, an important trace mineral that helps with the absorption of iron and is essential for a healthy pregnancy.

The suggestions in this article are for minor complaints. If your symptoms are severe or chronic (persistent), always consult a registered homeopath, your midwife and/or your general practitioner. If you are already undergoing a course of homeopathic treatment, contact your homeopath before prescribing yourself.

Morning Sickness

Symptoms of morning sickness include nausea, occasional vomiting and tiredness. Many women experience these symptoms during the first three months of pregnancy, usually in the morning when the stomach is empty, although it can occur at any time of the day.

The traditional cure of eating a dry biscuit before getting out of bed is worth trying.Avoid rich, fatty foods and try eating little and often if your nausea is worse when you are hungry.
Seek professional help if your vomiting is severe, for example if you are unable to keep food down and are losing weight or if it persists past your third month.

The following remedies are the more commonly indicated.

Ipecac: constant, nausea with empty belching and retching; vomiting is difficult and does not relieve your nausea.

Nux vomica: nausea with retching that is relieved by vomiting; sour belching, indigestion and heartburn. You may have a sensation that there is a knot in your stomach. You feel bad tempered

Pulsitilla: nausea (with little vommiting), worse after eating and drinking, better in the fresh air and for company. You feel weepy, moody and like to be comforted

Sepia: Intermittent nausea which is worse in the mornings and worse for the smell or thought of food; there is an empty, sinking feeling in the stomach which is temporily releaved by eating. You feel  apethetic, exauhsted and heavy but oddly are better for vigorous exercise. You are indifferent or cross with others. 

Homeopathy is a system of medicine which based on treating the individual with highly diluted substances given in mainly tablet form, which trigger the body's natural system of healing. Based on you experience of your symptoms, a homeopath will match the most appropriate medicine to you.

Homeopathy is ideal for women in their childbearing years as it is a gentle system of medicine. During pregnancy, some women will choose to live with the discomfort of minor complaints such as morning sickness or heartburn, rather than seek treatment because they are concerned about the possible side effects of orthodox medicined on their unborn child.

Homeopathic medicines are safe for your growing baby because only a minute amount of the active ingredient is used in their preperation.

By stimulating your vitaity in pregnancy, homeopathic treatment can benefit your baby and by staying as healthy as possible during pregnancy, you are giving your baby the ideal conditions in which to thrie.

Physical and emotional changes during pregnancy may cause health problems such as nausea, mild urinary problems, diarrhoea, heartburn, amenia, varicose veins, backache, cramps thrush or emotional distress. All these problems and other potentially complicated symptoms such as raised blood pressure, may be helped by professional homeopathic treatment.

These are the herbal remedies you simply must know about. They are treid and tested by practitioners and clients, some for hundreds of yeas, and backed by scientific research as well. Here's our pick of the power plants.

Echinacea
Number one remedy for helping the immune system and fighting infections (it is an anti-viral).

St John's wort
A natural mood-enhancer widely accepted to be effective in mild to moderate depression. Research suggests that it can work as well as some pharmaceutical drugs, but it is far less likely to cause side effects.

Milk Thistle
Anything to do with the liver and detoxification, think Milk Thistle. No hrbalist can do without this remedy, traditionally used to protect and restore the liver, arguably the buisest organ in the body.

Garlic
A Traditional "blood thinner", garlic is taken by many people to prevent atheroscerosis (harening of the arteries) It also a great anti-fungal and anti-bacterial, traditionally used to stave off colds.

Saw palmetto
Well-researched for helping the prostate gland, effective in conditions such as frequent urination or restricted flow and is general anti-inflammatory.   

Sourced from camlifestyle

Women can now live thirty to fifty years past the menopause and they want to live those years in good health and free from symptoms. Natural approaches can help.

Te average age for the menopause in the UK is Fifty one; it happens because a women literally runs out of eggs. In the run up to the menopause (the peri-menopause), the number of cycles in which eggs are not released increases. Oestrogen begins to decline and ovulation becomes less likely.

Some women sail through- the only thing they notice is that their periods have stopped. Others can experience such extreme night sweats that they have to get up to change two to three times a night. Other symptoms include hot flushes, vaginal dryness, mood swings, declining libido,osteoporosis,ageing skin, lack of energy, joint pains, weight gain, headaches and changes in hair quality.

Many women are convinced that the risks of taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT), in disease, strokes and thrombosis, do not outweigh the benefits.

Dietary Changes 

A well balanced diet is essential during the menopause as it enables the body to adjust automatically to the hormonal changes. Eating a good amount of fresh fruit and vegetables and also including phytoestrogens in the form of chick peas, lentils, soya, kidney beans and so on is important . Caffeine tea and coffee etc can bring on a hot flush for many women. The same can apply to spicy foods and alcohol.

Up to 85% of western women will experience hot flushes compared to only 14% in some Asian countries. As a result, scientists have been studying the plant hormones known as phytoestrogens which occur naturally in certain foods such as soya, chickpeas and lentils- all much more common in the Asain diet.

These foods contain isoflavones, the most beneficial kind of phytoestrogens. They're not themselves hormones, but bacteria in the gut convert isoflavones into substances that act like oestrogen, which is why fermented soya foods such as miso and tempeh are thought to be especially beneficial.

There are a number of key points which should be emphasised for menopausal women:

• Stabilise blood sugar levels by reducing the amount of sugar and refined foods in the diet and eatng little and often to reduce the toll on the adrenal glands.
• Reduce or eliminate caffinated drinks such as tea coffee which contribute to the blood sugar problem but also act as diuretics depriving the body of vital nutrients and trace elements
• Ensure a good intake of essential fatty acids from oily fish, nuts and seeds whic help lubricate the joints, skin and vagina
• Avoid soft fizzy drinks which contain high levels of phosphorus and increasing urinary calcium excretion
• Include a good intake of phytoestrogens in the diet from many sources and not just soya. 

By Dr mariyln Glenvile, Phd

Reflexology is the practice of using compression massage mainly on the feet, but can also use the hands or ears.  The feet mirror the body and pressure on specific points can affect different organs and glands and stimulate the body’s own healing potential.  The pressure points used are very similar to Acupressure points and the energy-flow through the meridians of the body is  re-balanced.

Reflexology is a holistic therapy and aims to re-balance the body and help its immune system to work effectively to achieve and maintain homeostasis.

It is particularly effective for Insomnia, Digestive disorders, Constipation and Migraine. Research shows it can help during Pregnancy, giving shorter labour times, promotes faster recovery and reduces oedema. Post labour it has been shown to help lactation and helps the mother-baby bonding process.

Research studies have also recommended Reflexology to aid sufferers of M.S. saying that Specific reflexology treatment was of benefit in alleviating motor; sensory and urinary symptoms in MS

Swedish and Aromatherapy Massage can be used for Musculo-skeletal disorders, aches and pains and Sportsmen and women, dancers and athletes. Useful both before and after an event. 

Thai Massage an ancient form of massage that uses thumb pressures on the meridians and “sen” points on the body before the muscles are moved away from the bone allowing previously blocked energies to flow through all the joints of the body.  This massage, similar to acupressure is excellent for flexibility and mobility.

THERMAL AURICULAR (HOPI CANDLES) An ancient therapy practised by the North American Hopi Indians. The hollow candles, made from linen and beeswax, are carefully inserted into the ear. When lit, they create a chimney effect, drawing out wax and impurities, clearing the ear and other areas such as the sinus and nose. A facial massage is also carried out to improve circulation, aid lymphatic drainage and help further clear the sinuses and nose. The candles can also be used to treat rhinitis, congestion from colds, headaches, catarrh and migraines.

Imagine being able to take control of your life – that would be wonderful, wouldn’t it!

By combining Life Coaching skills with a range of other Therapeutic interventions
e.g. NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), TAT (Tapas Acupressure Technique) and Time Line Therapy

Swine flu is high on the media agenda and in peoples thoughts. With the growing occurrence of reported side effects to Tamiflu and not every one wanting the upcoming flu jab what are the natural alternatives.

First to say is that the better your general health with a good diet the better chance of avoiding a serious dose. If there are underlying respiratory or immune problems it would be advisable to have a consultation over these as soon as possible.

There are two herbs that are sited for flu prevention, Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) and Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum).

Echinacea boosts the immune system and is my favourite standby for a short  large dose program when the person is in contact with potential infection or are feeling the first signs of infection.

Boneset is not widely used these days but clinical trials have shown its efficacy in previous flu outbreaks, and its potential against the latest strain.

If you are unfortunate enough to contract the flu, take to your bed and take plenty of fluids. If not already taken take a short course of echinacea and an elderberry syrup has been shown in clinical trials to help speed recovery.

Researches from the Nationwide Children's Hospital have publicised their "Journal of Paediatric Psychology" this has noted the effectiveness of massage within physical medicine , especially with the rehabilitation of organ transplant patients. It also has a physiological effect on the children helping them cope with certain disease's such as Sickle cell anemia.