Most people cannot avoid stress however you can do things to relieve it by using relaxation techniques and relaxation practices, which used as often as you can manage will reduce your everyday stress levels and boost your feelings, from basic breathing exercises to massage therapy. To get the most out of your relaxation you need to try and put time aside each day for some basic relaxation exercises and try and do these when you are not feeling tired and sleepy as it will not have as much effect as if you were awake and alert.

Below are some basic relaxation methods and other practices that will help alleviate your stress.
Deep breathing – For a simple yet powerful, relaxation technique focus on full, cleansing breaths and deep breathing you will find that deep breathing provides a quick way to get your stress levels in check. Deep breathing is a main component to relaxation and is used in many practices and combined with other relaxation methods for full relaxation. To get the most out of deep breathing you need to take deep breaths from the abdomen, rather than shallow breaths from your upper chest, to inhale more oxygen. The more oxygen you get, the less tense, short of breath, and anxious you feel.

Progressive muscle relaxation – This is a great way to completely relax your body and involves a two-step process in which you systematically tense and relax different muscle groups in the body you can get audio instructions from many progressive muscle practitioners for this relaxation treatment to follow. They normally start at the feet and work their way up to the face.

Massage Therapy – This treatment is not necessarily an everyday treatment as not everyone has daily access to a personal masseuse however it’s a great treat once a month or when you are feeling particularly stressed.  Getting a massage will provide deep relaxation and as your muscles relax so will your mind. There are many types of massage but the most common is a Swedish massage which is a soothing technique specifically designed to relax and energize.

Sometimes constantly taking drugs for common ailments can seem a bit excessive especially if you worry about all the chemicals in them so here are a few alternative treatments for those common ailments.

The common cold
During the colder months when risk of infection is higher you can take a course of Echinacea, an herbaceous plant in the Asteraceae family. According to a University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy study Echinacea can reduce the odds of developing a cold by 58% and the duration of colds by a day-and-a-half. As well as taking Echinacea in Chinese medicine they suggest eating a whole raw garlic clove when you have a cold coming on.

Sore throat
For centuries honey has been used as a treatment for sore throats, with many people mixing a spoonful with a cup of hot water and a slice of lemon to relieve your symptoms, recent research suggests that it may be as effective as many medicines you can buy as many of them contain honey or similar as a soothing ingredient.

Upset stomach
Tummy trouble can be aided by herbal remedies such as chamomile, which is a calming anti inflammatory that helps to keep the digestive tract healthy, if you suffer from cramps it also reduces them. To keep your tummy healthy it’s also recommended to have a healthy diet by eating plenty of fruit and vegetables and drinking lots of water, as well as cutting down on alcohol and rich food.

Indigestion
Many people suffer from indigestion or heartburn which is a burning sensation felt from your stomach and up your food pipe caused by acids in your stomach. Its recommended that alternative treatments such as swallowing a tablespoon of distilled white vinegar when you feel symptoms approaching can reduce the pain or other remedies include mixing baking soda with water or eating apples, carrots, raw ginger or almonds, all of which are thought to neutralise stomach acid.

Inflammation
If you want to reduce inflammation caused by conditions such as arthritis occurring its recommended supplementing your diet with essential fatty acids commonly found in oily fish, other extracts such as turmeric and ginger also thought to limit the symptoms of inflammation as well as pineapple which contains high levels of bromelain, a compound which is thought to relieve painful symptoms of swelling and arthritis and arnica which is widely used to treat the condition.

During 2010 hair and beauty will follow two styles either soft and subtle or architectural and sharp. Pastel shades dominated the catwalks this season with designer clothing styles from Moschino Cheap and Chic whose focus was on the lips which were bright pink, Bottega Veneta opted for refined raspberry. So it’s no surprise cosmetics will be following suit, light, bubblegum hues and pretty pinks are washed over cheeks and lips in varying degrees of vibrancy.

The hair trends also take on the soft and subtle and the architectural and sharp with trends seen on the catwalk ranging from Matthew Williamson’s version of the classic bun, which was given new life with an intricate braid, twists, plaits and knots, for a very girly pretty dress look or to Issa which went for bright and funky with their Mardi Gras style weaving coloured fabric through plaits which were arranged at the top of the head.

Matthew Williamson

Picture courtesy of KnOizKi

Sexual dysfunction is a complex issue and can be caused by many things, many men often take the easy route when they suffer this problem by taking Viagra however sometimes taking a quick-fix approach can mean you miss symptoms that are often part of a bigger problem.

It’s often advisable to review your overall health and current medications with your doctor as sometimes other medications can cause erectile dysfunction, as well as addressing health issues it’s also worth while addressing mental health issues and look at psychological or relationship issues through counselling or other forms of therapy. Sometimes you find that the problem is treatable without taking drugs.

Viagra is a popular drug for erectile or sexual dysfunction because it’s very effective boosts blood flow within 30 minutes to several hours and has proven to be safe.

We are always told what to eat to keep us living longer, but sometimes some super foods can be very expensive however there some everyday foods that can help without breaking the bank.

Red cabbage – This vegetable is high in vitamin C, calcium and sulphoraphane, another cancer-fighting chemical, the deep red colour in red cabbage comes from flavanoids, an antioxidant that protects against cancer.

Soya beans – Contain all nine amino acids as well as been a rival chicken, red meat or eggs as a protein source. Edamame as they are also known are also high in vitamin C and fibre and other health boosting and curative properties that can help in the battle against heart disease.

Swiss chard – Is available all year round with many health benefits, dark leafy green vegetables should feature prominently in your diet because they contain phytonutrients and fibre which keep your digestive system healthy. Swiss chard also has high levels of vitamin K which promote bone health and the vitamin C in it boosts your immune system.

Prunes – Great for anyone who has a high red meat intake, prunes, which are packed with antioxidants counteract the red meat. The nutrient ferulic acid and the natural sugars in prunes combine to keep your system clean and potentially protect you from bowel cancer.

Frozen berries – Antioxidant-rich delights such as blueberries and raspberries are great to eat all year round and freezing the fruit after its harvested keeps the nutrients locked in, plus its much handier to have a supply in your freezer rather than buying fresh.

red cabbage

Picture courtesy of adie reed

You might have a romantic night planned of wining and dining your loved one, showering her with gifts and a night of passion planned but have you thought about what to do if not all of it goes to plan? Many men suffer from erectile dysfunction and it can happen when you least expect it or when you least want it.

If you want your valentine’s day to go without a hitch have you thought about taking Viagra? Its effective and fast acting and it typically boosts blood flow within 30 minutes to several hours, which is great if you are worried about having a whole night of passion been cut short.

Recent research has revealed that a lack of sleep can cause you to put weight on around 60 per cent of British adults are overweight or obese and as previously thought overeating or lack of exercise was the main cause but it now seems sleep deprivation is also a major factor.

Dr Shahrad Taheri, a consultant endocrinologist at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital said “We have done a series of studies looking at weight and sleep, and studying the metabolic rate. We discovered that people who sleep for significantly less than seven hours a night often end up being obese.” During the research they also found that if people who sleep for fewer than 4 hours a night are 73 per cent more likely to gain excess weight, while restricting sleep can lead to cravings for up to 900 extra calories a day. This extra increase in food intake can cause an increase in weight of up to 2lb a week. The cravings are caused by hormones that regulate appetite they are stimulated when you don’t get enough sleep leading to higher levels of ghrelin the hormone that triggers appetite, and lower levels of leptin that tells your body it’s full.

Many doctors recommend getting at least 8 hours of undisturbed sleep a night to reduce the chance of extreme weight gain.