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Swine flu! Is it mild, or is it deadly? So much conflicting information, producing such great fear and anxiety. Fear causes stress, and stress depletes our immune system. So the more we worry about swine flu, the more likely we are to get it!! Treatment with anti-virals reportedly only shortens the length of the flu by up to 36 hours, and have side effects associated with their use.

Homeopathy has a long history of involvement in the treatment and prevention of epidemic diseases. Homeopathic remedies have been shown to be extremely effective for helping flu symptoms.

So, your latest love relationship has broken down, you are left on your own and you feel like there is a big gap in your life now. Everything seems a disappointment and it feels ever so hard to move on. You might feel angry, resentful, or sad. You know at a logical level that it’s not you, it is not your fault but sometimes, somewhere deep down inside, you are beginning to wonder, why is this happening to you? You feel stuck and want to get out of this situation.

Could it be you might not yet feel ready to move on? Then ask yourself what you gain from holding on - and be totally honest with yourself. Then ask what you could gain from letting go of the past. Carefully weigh up your answers - all the pros and cons. Could it be that the future looks brighter and full of possibilities?

Moving on and letting go require patience and support. Within the right setting you can achieve closure by a process of releasing your past emotional attachments and letting go. Closure gives you freedom. Once you make the decision to put down the emotional baggage you have been carrying around from the past relationship, you give yourself permission to move on and create a new rewarding and fulfilling life for yourself. A new phase of your life begins now. You can re-model your life, your family, even your relationship with the world.

As a Life Coach I can work with you on this difficult phase of your life, and help you to release those negative emotions, leaving behind what no longer serves you and creating a new successful future for yourself.

Happy 5th birthday to RH123. A celebration of achievement; a recognition of things even better to come, a very pertinent birthday when Spring is springing, new growth, new life, a promise of better weather to come. It’s time to look forward to those sunny summer days, no more winter chills….we hope! It is of course forever summer in complementary therapy land; where a warm welcome awaits you, and you can get that relaxed sunny-day feeling anytime you want it.

Stroll through summer glades with aromatherapy, rest, relaxed beside silent pools with reflexology, recuperate with reiki or unwind and invigorate yourself with holistic massage. It’s easy to conclude that money spent on relaxation is a luxury, particularly during tough times like these, but that’s exactly when It’s even more important to take time out for yourself, especially if your life is busy and stressful. Remember, if you don’t slow down by choice once in a while, you may have the choice taken out of your hands. Try complementary therapies to relax and unwind, whatever the time of year and whatever the weather, and give yourself a regular new birthday with complementary therapies. You can find the contact details for many of my fellow therapists at www.rh123.com/health. If you are not sure what a particular therapy entails, just call and they will be happy to explain.

Standing outside with a cigarette in all weathers seems to be a new social phenomenon. Many smokers have been able to quit using their own resources but others that haven’t are turning in search of support to an array of “chemical warfare” products, that I believe ought to be carrying greater health warnings than the cigarette packets themselves!

‘Which’ magazine and the New Scientist have both recently reported that Hypnotherapy is the most effective method of stopping smoking. Every cigarette you smoke reinforces the learned habit within your subconscious mind. By talking directly to the subconscious with hypnosis, we offer it the chance to accept changes, whilst pre-empting the development of mood swings and potential weight gain at the same time.

Within 24 hours of quitting, your body has cleared carbon monoxide; 5 days and nicotine addiction is over; 1 year and the risk of heart attack is reduced by half. After 15 years the risk of heart attack falls to the same as a non-smoker. The benefits of giving up smoking are obvious, so if you really want to, hypnotherapy can help you.

Rather than asking what the treatment will cost, the positive way of looking at it is to think in terms of what you could SAVE. A 20-a-day smoker who quits would recover the fee within just 4 weeks.

If you have any queries call me at the number below or visit my website to see a patient discussing her personal experience of hypnotherapy, which answers many commonly asked questions.

The first signs of a cold or flu may have you reaching for a paracetamol and a hot toddy. Instead, why not try a homeopathic remedy, which can quickly reduce your symptoms and greatly aid a speedy recovery, says Keith Smeaton, homeopath at the Reigate Homeopathic Practice.

While shop-bought medicines will suppress a fever and other flu' like symptoms, homeopathic treatment can shorten the duration of the complaint and can also be safely given to children.

The basic principle of homeopathy is `like cures like’ – that is, patients are given a small dose of a substance, such as Belladonna, derived from the Deadly Nightshade plant, which in a large dose could cause the symptoms from which they are suffering.

Everyone’s flu' and cold symptoms are different and a homeopath will prescribe a remedy taking all the symptoms into account. If symptoms come on suddenly and intensely, then the answer is often Aconite, a remedy commonly used for nipping colds in the bud. For flu’ like symptoms, then often Gelsemium is needed, known as the ‘glass coffin’ remedy because it can help with symptoms of complete physical prostration coupled with mental alertness.

But the best treatment is always preventative, so why not book an appointment at the Reigate Homeopathic Practice to be prescribed a constitutional homeopathic remedy which will strengthen your immune system and help it become more resistant to the common cold or the latest flu bug.

Keith Smeaton is a registered homeopath and a Gold Member of RH123 contact details

‘A Revolutionary New Approach to the most Ancient of Healing Therapies’. That's the opinion of the Originator of No Hands® Massage – Gerry Pyves - and I completely agree.

I believe it is one of the most powerful new therapeutic massage treatments available. No Hands® Massage was conceived and developed by Gerry Pyves – a UK therapist - after clinical testing for over 20 years. (www.nohandsmassage.com). The physical, energetic, emotional, mental and spiritual levels are worked on during the massage, which is performed using the soft surfaces of the forearms. The massage is deeper and more relaxing than the usual massage, more effective than you ever thought possible. So powerful that the benefits can be felt long after the session is finished. It is Deep, Nourishing, Energising, and Rejuvenating. This massage is a new way of life – not just for the odd injury or occasional pampering. The ‘Full Body Massage’ combines all treatments into a powerful flowing Massage that will leave you feeling nurtured and rejuvenated. The ‘Back Massage’ releases the tension in the spine, hips and neck. The ‘Foot Massage’ is an amazingly deep treatment that will leave your whole body feeling transformed. The ‘Back to Basics’ Massage takes you right back to the basics of powerful touch: your breath, your relaxing muscles and absolute stillness of the mind.

The technique is also beneficial to the practitioner, in terms of strain reduction, which in turn is good for the patient.

Diane Mundy is a complementary therapist and a Gold Member of RH123 contact details

Some quality time for yourself . . .

If your life is stressful, if are you busy working, if you are busy looking after the family and caring for others, then just stop and think for a moment. Just when was the last time you took some time, just when did you make some quality time for yourself?

When was the last time you stood back from your busy lifestyle? When was the last time someone cared for you?

Sometimes perhaps we forget just who we really are; perhaps we forget our true nature. Our modern lifestyle encourages us to live in such a way that perhaps we become detached from our real selves. Complementary therapies may encourage a return to our true nature even if it’s just for a short but potentially valuable time. They encourage grounding. An hour of peace and tranquility can be so valuable indeed.

We all need some time, our own special time and place to relax and unwind, to recharge those flat batteries, our own special place to recuperate, a respite from our busy, stressful lives.

Read a book, relax, take a walk, rekindle a lapsed hobby or pastime, but whatever you do give yourself a treat, do something for yourself today.

Give yourself some "me time" every day, you deserve it!

Bob Davies is a reflexologist and a Gold Member of RH123 contact details

With more and more of us living sedentary life styles our bodies are paying a price.

The human body is designed to move. It needs to do this to maintain optimal health. Movement stimulates the flow of essential fluids within the body, such as blood, lymph and the synovial fluid that lubricates the joints. This improves the quality of the body tissues including the muscles and skin. It also helps to reduce the risk of developing conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Mental health is also known to benefit from exercise.

So find an activity that will motivate you to move, something you’ll enjoy doing. It does not necessarily mean joining an expensive gym or doing a strenuous sport. Gentle exercise works just as well. A walk in the country in the fresh air can do the world of good. An afternoon pottering in the garden is a perfect activity, but do take care lifting those heavy bags of compost!

So whatever it is, get moving! It will be a great way to shake off those winter blues!

The festive season will soon be upon us, have you organised your Christmas Turkey yet? Do you know what presents you are going to buy or have you bought them already? Have you written your Christmas cards? Or are you going to opt out and have a holiday over the Christmas Period?

If every year Christmas and New Year seem daunting why not take time for yourself in the run up to the Season or in the New Year. Treat yourself to a Complementary Therapy. Most therapies are relaxing and can help you feel you can cope with the tasks ahead. Why not have a relaxing massage, a massage for the whole body can take away the strains of every day life, or a shorter treatment on the back, have your feet and legs massaged - wonderful after traipsing around the shops wondering what you are going to buy.

Most Therapists offer Gift Vouchers, so there is another present solved. They can be for any amount – take advantage of 3 for 2 treatment offers.

Reflexology, Hypnotherapy, Osteopathy, Homeopathy - even a workout at a gym - look at www.rh123.com/health or the back pages of 'the event' - there are a number of therapists and therapies at your disposal, all offer a treatment to ease the stressful times in your life.