I rarely get a real strong, painful headache but when I do, I’d try anything to get rid of it pronto!

Anyway, I found Wikihow’s page on how to relieve a headache pretty useful:

1. Place a hot compress on your fore-head or the back of your neck. The heat will help to relax knotted up muscles in this area.
2. Apply compress with vinegar (preferably home-made, apple vinegar) to your head.
3. If you don’t have cardiovascular problems and you can stand it, hot shower (~140 F) for 20 minutes can bring you instant relief.
4. Have a strong cup of coffee or energy drink. Caffeine reduces blood-vessel swelling, and thus can help to relieve a headache. This is why caffeine is an ingredient in some extra-strength painkillers like Anadin Extra. If you are already a heavy coffee drinker, don’t try this. Caffeine withdrawal can cause headaches, creating a vicious cycle.
5. Wring out two wet peppermint tea bags and place them on your closed eyelids or forehead for five minutes.
6. If you have a vapouriser…
   • Add 7 drops of lavender oil
   • Add 3 drops of peppermint oil
   • Breathe in the relief.
   • Alternatively you could also try sprinkling a few drops of peppermint oil onto a tissue and inhaling deeply several times.
7. Herbal teas can be used to help ease the pain of a tension headache. Choose whichever flavour helps you relax, be it cooling peppermint or calming chamomile.
8. Spend some time relaxing your mind. Visualise a calm scene, such as a green forest or blue ocean, and take deep breaths. Without doing anything, have the thought of allowing your neck go free. Tension in the neck and shoulders can often be the cause of headaches.
9. Massage the temples, shoulders, neck or any other area where you feel tension. Tense areas usually feel tight and hard, and are easy to recognise. Essential oils can be incorporated into massage to aid relaxation. Lavender is a well-known relaxant.
10. Apply an ice pack to your neck for 10 minutes.
11. Tension headaches can be caused by eye strain, so ensure you take at least a ten-minute screen break every hour. Close your eyes and cup them with the palms of each hand, apply light pressure and hold for 2 minutes.
12. Visit your optician to ensure you do not need glasses.
13. Headaches can be caused by dehydration. Try to increase your water intake to between 6 and 8 glasses a day.
14. If you clench your jaw or grit your teeth, make an effort to relax your face. Try yawning to reduce facial tension.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

I hate acne. Just like many other people out there. In my teenage years, I was a victim to the horribly spots that never seemed to fade and cover your face in redness.

My skin has since cleared up and I have been using only a  natural acne treatment since I believe that harsh face washes and ultra formulated acne treatments will only break you out and make the whole situation worse. I guess everyone just has to experiment and see what works best for them. 

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Everyone who suffers from Hayfever will surely know how annoying and awful spring can be.

I like to prepare myself for the pollen season a little while before it kicks off. Sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose and worse, around 16 million people in Britain experience symptoms once spring sets in.

Apparently this season is going to be a lot worse than last year’s. Therefore, it’s important to carefully chose where to go for short breaks or holidays.

The most common allergy is to grass pollen. Sufferers cannot really escape it because it’s paramount.

Being on the British coast, my symptoms are currently under control and overall as good as non-existent.

According to this map, the coastline, Scotland and Wales are places with a lower pollen count.

A lot of people don’t seem to realise how important it is to tackle allergies. It affects your everyday life, leaves you looking incredibly hung over, clinging to packs of tissues for dear life and even disturbs your sleep. Chronic Hayfever has also been linked to depression.

All good reasons to do something about it. So what are our options?

The symptoms are caused by the body’s release of histamine. Our immune system treats the pollen as intruders and goes into over- reaction.

• The first step to tackle allergies is to know exactly what substance, types of pollen ect.. you are allergic to. Doctors can easily determine this by analysing your blood and giving you a skin-allergy test.
• You may prescribed anti-histamine tablets. I’ve seen them in every shop as well and generally they work alright for the less severe cases.
• Desensitising treatments promise a permanent elimination of allergies. This works by getting the body used to the allergen causing the allergy. This can be done with injections, drops or even tablets. Definitely worth asking your doctor about.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Just like every part of a relationship, you should focus some of your attention at your sex life.

I guess most people will have to face up to reality when it comes to long term relationships and realise that we all might slip into a boring (sexless) routine.

So anyone in a relationship should really be asking themselves, what can I do to keep the spark and the attraction alive?

I think this is generally a big issue for women. Especially once they are married and have children. I would imagine this puts a lot of strain on their body, making them feel less attractive, perhaps leaving them with scars or an enlarged labia.

I’d hate to imagine how irritating that would be. However, women don’t have to live with discomfort or irritation anymore, thanks to vaginal cosmetic surgery.

Anyone who’s interested in the topic or considers such a procedure and lives in Atlanta, should check out Dr. Miklos / Moore. Both are internationally renowned surgeons and have performed labia reduction surgery and laser vaginal rejuvenation surgery in over 46 states.

Since curiosity got the best of me, I couldn’t help but read their FAQ. This bit is quite interesting:

What is the normal size of the labia minora?
There is no so called “normal size”. Like a nose, every labia of every size is considered normal. No person can dictate what a normal sized labia should be. However, there have been some unscientific surveys that state most women would prefer their labia minora not protrude past the length of the labia majora. Most patients prefer the labia minora to be at the level of the labia majora or lower.

Should I have labia reduction surgery?
No physician, sexual partner or spouse should tell you to have labia reduction surgery. Only the individual considering surgery can make that decision. She must remember that this is an irreversible procedure. So once performed the labia can never be replaced. Only you can make the decision to go to surgery after the physician discusses with you the risks, benefits and alternatives to the procedure. This surgery is a quality of life issue and is not life threatening and is not considered a medical condition.

I think they got it straight to the point. If it makes you happy and if you helps you, go for it.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

I’ve always loved the idea of a bedtime routine. There’s nothing more soothing and calming than preparing yourself, in the right way, for a peaceful and quality sleep session.

Bedtime routines don’t just work for children. They are essential in my opinion, to lead a healthy and productive life.

One thing I would always, well most days, include is a relaxing bath. There’s nothing better than quiet bedtime routines kicked off by a warm bubble bath.

Here’s my take on the routine:

1. Brush your teeth, clean your face, take your vitamins / pills ect. Get all of that out of the way first.

2. Take a bath. I hate real hot baths, I guess everyone just has to experiment with the temperature and take it as hot as possible.

What you put in your bath can also contribute to your quality of sleep. Loving the Johnsons Bedtime Bath and Body Lotion.

Another great tip is to use Epsom salts in your bath. It relaxes your muscles, draws toxins from your body and exfoliates your skin at the same time.

3. Hot milky drinks. I now prefer goat’s milk and soy milk over normal cow milk.

Drinking hot milk can encourage drowsiness because milk contains sleep enhacing properties.

4. Darken the bedroom as much as possible. The darker the better. An alternative would be to get an eye mask.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites