My favourite health tips

For neck and shoulder pain from using a computer mouse:

Stand up and move around for a few minutes several times a day.   Try these simple stretches:

• With your arm straight stretch it backwards and round in big, slow circles 4 or 5 times and repeat with the other arm.
• With your arms at your sides make circles with your shoulders, slowly, trying to squeeze your shoulder blades together.
• Still with your arms at your sides lift your shoulders up to your ears and then let the weight of your arms bring them down again.
• Keeping your hips facing forwards bring your arms in front of your chest and slowly twist from side to side.

Stress

Gently massage the area between your thumb and forefinger (ie the 'web'), and the corresponding area on your feet.  These are powerful acupuncture points to help calm and relax you.

Got an important meeting or exam today?

Neroli essential oil helps reduce anxiety.   Try one or two drops mixed in a teaspoon of milk and added to your bath, or on a tissue to inhale beforehand.

Headache

Tension headaches are often caused by a stagnation of energy in an acupuncture channel that runs from your shoulder up the back of your neck.  Pressing just under the base of your skull, midway between the top of your spine and the bone behind your ear will help move the energy.

The reflex point for your head is the tip of your big toe, behind the nail.   Massage this area gently but firmly, on both toes if the headache is all over, or just on the same side if the headache is on one side.

One drop of lavender essential oil on your temple(s) will also help.

Can't get to sleep?

Use one drop of lavender essential oil on your pillow.   Don't be tempted to use more as this will have the opposite effect; the rule 'less is more' applies here.

Want to relax and unwind at the end of the day?

Dilute essential oils to a total of six drops in a teaspoon of milk, and add to your bath, mixing well.

Try roman chamomile, geranium and lavender; roman chamomile, lavender and sweet marjoram; lavender and ylang ylang; or sweet marjoram and ylang ylang.

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To help give you a 'lift' in the morning, and better than a caffeine fix!

Dilute essential oils to a total of six drops in a teaspoon of milk, and add to your bath, mixing well.

Reviving oils include rosemary (avoid if pregnant, epileptic of suffering with high blood pressure) and the citrus oils, especially lemon and grapefruit.

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Do you suffer with 'catarrh'?

You could try reducing, or even eliminating, your intake of dairy products as some people have an intolerance to cow's milk.   Or try switching to sheep or goat's milk products.

Want help getting to sleep?

A cup of chamomile tea at bedtime is relaxing and calming.

Help for coughs and colds.

Put a drop of pine or eucalyptus essential oil on a tissue and inhale this to clear a stuffy nose and chest.

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