Fancy a glass of warming wine? With this year’s winter weather set to be even colder than last, keeping warm is a must. Therefore a glass of Organic Merlot is not only an excuse for delightfully tasteful alcohol, but also a brilliant way to keep warm at home.

According to Ayurveda, an occasional glass is beneficial in Winter to encourage circulation for building up heat and stimulating activity within the body. Not only that, but it is organic! Which means all the while you are staying healthy and enjoying good tasteful alcohol all at the same time.

Visit: http://www.ayurvedicyogi.com/

The Portobello Clinic is a natural health center specializing in Shiatsu while offering a wide range of eastern treatments. Such treatments include; Shiatsu, Thai massage, Acupuncture, Indian head massage, Tui Na-Chinese medical massage, 5 element Aromatherapy massage, Reiki, and even Reflexology … You see, there is nothing impossible at the Eastern Garden…
The clinic itself is a house where arriving you will be welcomed with a nice cup of Green Tea and consulted by one of 25 skilled therapists. They offer many specials to encourage people to try out something different for little money. So go and try out a Chinese Medical Massage for 15£/30 min every Tuesday- on 3rd of November 2009 it is free!

For more information please click here.

Reports predict that a second wave of swine flu will sweep the UK this winter.
If your immune system is functioning properly, your chance of contracting any illness is definitely lower.
For hundreds of years, acupuncture has been used as preventive medicine to stave off illness and keep people healthy.
It can treat a variety of conditions such as insomnia, depression, women’s health, infertility, pain, sports injuries, indigestion, and many more.  However, with the recent swine flu epidemic, many people are interested in seeking complementary therapy to boost their immune system.

According to Kingyo’s acupuncturist, Christine Chung, “Many of my clients start coming in mid-September and early October for acupuncture treatments to boost their immune system for the winter.  Treatments aim to strengthen the defense mechanism of the body so that colds and flus will not penetrate.  I recommend seasonal treatments four times a year to balance the body and its various systems.  This way, minor imbalances do not progress into anything chronic or severe.”

Christine’s clients find that acupuncture can also help them kick a cold or flu quickly or address the side effects of drugs such as antibiotics or vaccines.  Acupuncture does not interfere with Western medical treatment.  On the contrary, it provides a welcome complement to it, and with its emphasis on treating the whole body, recovery time for illness is often shortened.
According to one of her clients, “Christine is the first person I go to when I feel any ailment coming on.  Last year, when people all around me were sniffling and coughing on the Tube and the office, I felt strong and healthy.”

If you are stressed, fatigued, work in a large office, take public transportation, or have school-aged children, it is important for you to be at your best and have your immune system functioning at its optimum.
Acupuncture can help you stay strong, healthy, and resistant to the nasties.  But what about those needles?  Are they really as horrible as they sound?  According to Christine, “At least once per day, someone comes into my office completely petrified of needles.  I’ll insert a few, and he or she will realise that their fear was all in their head.  I use a very gentle needle technique so that even the most needle-phobic person will enjoy the treatment and still experience the effects.”

For more information: Christine Chung

The sun’s rays can burn hair, weakening its protein stucture and reducing its elasticity (so it breaks more easily). Combined with chlorine and salt water this can spell disaster. Just as the skin should be protected from the sun so too should be hair. Sun protection sprays and leave-in conditioners must be applied to hair regularly exposed to the sun. To protect hair when swimming, mix some waterproof highfactor sunscreen oil with a thick leave-in conditioner and apply it in sectionsalong the length of the hair. Comb through for even distribution. The oil and conditioner combination protects hair from chlorine and sea salt while also conditioning and maintaining moisture. For best results reapply after swimming.
Deep-Conditioning Treatment: A weekly pre-shampoo deep conditioner nourishes and moisturizes the hair from the roots keeping it healthy and shiny all summer long. Whisk together two eggs, two half eggshells of olive oil (or light vegetable oil), half a ripe avocado and 50ml of purified water. Work mixture into the hair with fingertips and leave for 10 minutes befor shampooing as normal.

We expect a really hot summer after the big disappointment last year and it already looks promising. Of course we all head to the beach, park or lido to catch every bit of the sunlight. But don’t forget that nothing ages the skin more than too much sun. Of course you look great tanned but just follow some simple rules like avoiding the sun about noon and early afternoon and choose shadowy spots and always use a sunscreen with a SPF of 15 or higher and wear a hat with a brim to protect the hair, scalp and face when directly exposed to the sun. To help your skin you should drink and eat well. Drinking loads of water is essential to keep your skin hydrated. Salmon, trout and tuna strengthen the blood and give your skin a fresh, soft look. The most nourishing varieties for the skin are apples, figs, berry fruits, apricots, Asian pears, Chinese red and black dates, papayas, adzuki beans, avocados, bean sprouts, broccoli and other dark green vegetables, carrots, celery, chickpeas, chicory, cucumbers, dandelion flowers, garlic, ginger, green beans, leeks, lentils, black beans, mung beans, onions, pumpkins, radishes, seaweed, spinach, sweet potatoes, water chestnut, watercress and squash. Plenty to choose from. Also concentrate on black sesame seeds, brown rice, millet, sunflower seeds, whole grains, oats, walnuts and Brazil nuts. Yoghurt with active bacterial cultures combats the free radicals responsible for skin ageing.Soya and other soy-based foods help plump and firm skin. Eat well to support your skin during hot summer days.

Combine the benefits of Yoga and Salt Cave Therapy. If you suffer from asthma, allergies, bronchitis, tonsilitis, insomnia, snoring, ear infections, coughs and colds, anxiety and stress, IBS and more, this is the workshop for you. During the workshop you will learn how to use yoga techniques and salt cave therapy to ease all these conditions and learn how to detox properly. Your breathing will improve greatly which will in turn assist in you being able to deepen into poses you would have thought unlikely. The workshop is open to all levels and you do not have to be a student of Anoushka’s Yoga.

For more information and to book online please visit www.anoushkasyoga.com.

Have you heard about Sebastian Kneipp, the founder of the Naturopathic medicine movement? We would like to give a brief introduction of the “Kneipp Cure”, a system of healing involving the application of water through various methods, temperatures and pressures. It can help you get fresh and balanced for spring. The five components are Hydrotherapy, Herbalism (the use of botanical medicine), Exercise, Nutrition and Spirituality.

-Water as your Beauty Elixir

Different water treatments are the heart of the Kneipp Cure. The basic rule is warm-cold-warm. Those changing impulses to your skin encourage blood circulation, tighten the dermal tissue and boost the metabolism. Here are the easiest treatments that you can try at home: Take a bath (37°, 38° Celsius) to release tension and relax. Add some essential oils: Lavender to calm, Rosemary to freshen, basil for a mood lift or rose if you are stressed. But don’t make it longer than 10 minutes and have a quick cold shower to finish. If you are not brave enough just wash your feet and legs up to the knee in cold water and maybe next time the whole of your body!

-Balance yourself

You can balance yourself through Yoga, Qigong or meditation, but for a quick fix try to breathe consciously. For best result go outside or stand at an open window, close your eyes and take a deep breath, hold it for five seconds and breathe out through the mouth. Keep that rhythm for five minutes.

-Exercise

Find an activity that you really enjoy. Kneipp suggests the best choice is to workout outside as you get fresh air in addition to exercise. Try jogging, Inline Skating, swimming or cycling and try to walk short distances instead of taking the car or bus.

-Eat healthy

Fruit, vegetables, whole grain products, fish and low-fat meat are essential for a Kneipp led lifestyle. You should drink plenty of water and herbal teas. The right food does not only make you feel better, but also allows your body to perform as its best.

To unwind your mind and physically prepare for sleep make a point of doing something to draw a line between your day and your sleep. Do something relaxing like having a bath, reading a book, perhaps don’t watch TV for the last hour of your evening. By doing this you are telling your mind that your are preparing for sleep. Avoid caffeine and sugar in the evenings and make your bedroom a calm place to be. Remove any work or clutter and remove all electrical appliances in there. If this is not an option make sure they are all turned off.

Do some gentle stretches for five to ten minutes, listen to your body and let it guide you where it wants to go, be comfortable and don’t strain as you stretch. When you get into bed tense up the whole body as you inhale an then as you exhale release all the tension - remember to include your face which holds so much tension. Then totally relax, let the bed support you and surrender to sleep. Feel a wave of relaxation wash over your body, starting at your feed and working up to your head, relax, relax, relax….

www.kirstynorton.co.uk

Yesterday I have seen an interesting show on BBC – “Grow your own drugs”. I really loved it and thought it was very interesting. I especially liked the self-made sleep inducing hops/lavender pillow. I have found the recipe on the website of BBC:

For a pillow about 32 x 23 cm:

4 handfuls dried hops flowers

4 handfuls dried lavender flowers

1. To dry the hops and lavender yourself, tie them in bunches and hang upside down in a well-ventilated space out of direct sunlight for 2 weeks. Alternatively, place in a low oven (about 100C) for 30 minutes or so until dry and crispy. Strip the flowers off the larger or harder stalks.
2. Put equal handfuls of dried hops and lavender flowers into a cotton pillowcase, and seal the end.
3. Place the pillow under or beside your head to induce sleep.

For more interesting recipes of “Grow your own drugs”: www.bbc.co.uk

Ayurveda, a Sanskrit name which means “knowledge” or “science of life”, is the science of living in harmony with nature. Developed thousands of years ago the holistic systems helps to balance the body, mind and spirit with guidelines for diet, sleep, meditation, massage, oil baths, the use of herbs and yoga.
A core principle of Ayurveda is that the human body contains three bio-energies called doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha).An imbalance of these doshas can lead to illness thus, maintaining or restoring the balance of the doshas is a fundamental purpose of Ayurvedic medicine. Incense is an essential element to keep the doshas balanced. The base, usually a mixture of tree bark powder, sandalwood and ground vegetable coal, is mixed with water to form a paste, rolled, dried and then immersed in a compound of aromatic oils. Ayurvedic preparation differs in that natural essential oils are added before rolling. The paste is made from the base compound of aromatic elements extracted from roots, bark, fruit, and resin, mixed with water and then the blend of essential oils is added. The mixture is rolled and left to dry.
Here some examples of commonly used Ayurvedic incense, including their effects.

Costen: Has a refreshing effect and lifts the spirit on a subtle level.
Jatamansi: Noted for its harmonising, sedative, and mental tuning properties.
Juniper: Is often used to cleanses the atmosphere and support cantering and meditation to uplift your spirit
Loban: Used in temples to create a devotional atmosphere. Purifies the consciousness and calms the mind.
Myrrh: Helps to free repressed emotions to increase powers of concentration.
Sambrani:Often used in Indian temples and spiritual ceremonies. It induces serenity, removes negative thoughts and helps to calm the nervous system.
Triphala: One of the best-known and most important Ayurvedic preparations, with a harmonising effect on the three doshas.
Well known and often used as an ingredient is Ginseng. Its physical structure is the crucial factor therefore. It is believed that it can bring balance and well being to the whole body. Indeed if the plant appears like a hand, then it would have the ability to heal the hands. You should give it a try…