The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that by 2020 major depression will be second only to heart disease as the leading cause of disability worldwide. Looking at changes of lifestyle can show somewhat what the causes of depression and anxiety are and thoughts turn to how to reduce the problems.

Massage is one of the oldest forms of treatment for many ailments and although not always recognised as a medical treatment by many professional bodies it has been proved that it can have some effectiveness. Before advances in medicine in the early 1900’s massage therapy was utilized in sanatoriums and psychiatric hospitals as a form of treatment before medicines were introduced. Unfortunately massage therapy has not received the same attention from the scientific community as other forms of treatment however research into effectiveness may be able to finally prove its use.

Many of the studies conducted on the effects of massage therapy show a decrease in depression moods, anxiety level and stress hormones and this is thought to be because increased parasympathetic activity may be the underlying mechanism for some changes. Some people believe when you relax the body you also relax the mind however there isn’t much research into how this happens so until then many people rely on the experiences of others to decide if massage therapy would work for them.

We focus a lot on here about how to keep your body in shape – but that’s really only half the story. We spoke a few weeks ago about how to show off your body to its best advantage in this summer’s trends, and you know all about skin care – but a pretty dress and a nice face can be ruined if your hair is a shaggy mop with no style or shape.

If you’ve got wild hair, you can take some simple steps to improve matters. Firstly, regular brushing – whatever your style – will make it easier to manage and help you to avoid knots and tangles. Secondly, simple acts like tying your hair up in a pony can help you create a ‘frame’ for your face. Thirdly, it’s surprising how quickly time passes: if you haven’t had a haircut in the last couple of months, get yourself to a stylist and have them give you some advice about what kind of style will suit your hair.

A problem for many women (and a few men!) is what to do with curly hair. While there are many styles out there that suit curly hair, increasingly those of us blessed with ringlets and swirls are looking to get a slice of the straight hair look. Even African Americans like Beyonce are going straight in order to get the best styles.

The easiest way to go about this is to invest in some ghd hair straighteners. They cost around a hundred quid, but you’ll know where the money went. Professional stylists recommend them and having tried them out ourselves we think they’re one of the best hair products out there.

Don’t get distracted from the gym in the meantime – if you’ve got good hair it’s no guarantee you’ll look good in a bikini!

Men who suffer from sexual dysfunction often find it embarrassing to discuss the problem and hope that the problem just goes away or reach for that blue pill. Viagra is the most popular treatment for sexual dysfunction and probably the most convenient as its easily available online or now from pharmacies.

However there are some supplements that may also help in combating the problem if you don’t want to resort to taking Viagra.

Ginkgo Biloba – This herb is more commonly taken as a memory booster however it has proven effective for enhancing blood flow when taken 3 times a day.

Arginine – This amino acid also enhances blood flow, a recent study suggests those with impotence improved after six weeks of taking arginine.

DHEA – This supplement is a hormone that helps our bodies make estrogen and testosterone and can help those men who have low levels of the hormone to help with impotence.

Yohimbe – This herb has been found in some studies to correct impotence however it does have more side effects than other supplements which include a dangerous rise in blood pressure, as well as anxiety.

If you’re worried about the dreaded MMR single vaccines, London then read on. We give you the low-down on MMR and the options you have for protecting your child.

The MMR is a vaccination that is intended to protect children from measles, mumps and rubella. Measles is a highly infectious virus that’s generally accompanied by a high-fever and a rash and can be spread really easily via a cough or a sneeze. Side-effects can be serious – ranging from fits and chest infections to seizures. In extreme cases the measles can be fatal.

Mumps is indicated by swollen glands in the neck and face and is usually paired with a significant fever that lasts for around a week, during which time your child will feel extremely unwell. It’s a very infectious virus that can result in meningitis, permanent deafness and encephalitis. Rubella is another name for German measles which is another relatively serious virus, noticeable by a fever, rash, sore throat and swollen glands. It’s very dangerous for pregnant women as it can seriously damage the hearing, sight, brain and heart of the foetus. In children, the virus can be mild and go unnoticed but it’s vital that children are immunised to protect pregnant women and their babies.

Historically, the MMR has been delivered in 2 separate (combined MMR) injections – the first at around 13 months and the second at around 4 years. But, with the negative press around the links between the MMR and autism, the idea of a single injection for each virus is very appealing to some parents. Triple MMR is thought to offer better protection to children as opposed to the MMR single vaccines. London doctors can offer single vaccines but do make sure you consider the options.

For those men who love a scent of a woman a German company has developed a cologne that smells like a vagina. German company Vivaeros created the scent called Vulva Original from a combination of urine, sweat, and female arousal from women of all ages.

All you need is a small dab of Vulva Original to appreciate the essence which will heighten a mans senses and stimulate the cinematic visions of the imagination which means that you can not only satisfy yourself more intensely during self stimulation but also during intercourse. The scent of Vulva Original triggers sexual attraction and desire in a natural way.

Designed specifically for people who involved in physical activities, not just professionally but also those who enjoy sport as a hobby a sports massage focuses on preventing and treating injury and enhancing athletic performance. Most forms of massage are specifically designed to treat different ailments like a Thai massage London therapist uses pressure points and movements of key muscles to align the body and an aromatherapy massage therapist uses essential oils to relax and reduce stress. The same is with a sports massage therapist, they use a combination of techniques that help loosen muscles and increase flexibility.

If you take part in physical activities a massage is an integral part of your fitness because it helps you get into good shape faster, and with less stiffness and soreness, recover faster from heavy workouts, and relieves conditions which may cause injury or if you have an injury it can also help you recover quicker. Different athletes use different muscles depending on what sports they partake in, a sports massage therapist is familiar with each muscle, the muscle groups and how they are affected by the specific movements and stresses of each sport. They use different forms of massage starting with the most common a Swedish massage as well as a Thai massage London and a deep tissue massage. They also use more type specific massages such as compression massage, cross-fibre massage, trigger point/tender point massage and lymphatic massage.

If you enjoy sport but feel the pain afterwards you should think about adding a sports massage to your training programme, you will soon notice the difference in your performance and state of your body after, as well as the physiological benefits of massage.

Many people are quick to self asses and brand themselves as depressed when they are feeling low or a bit down, however those feelings which are short lived do not mean you are clinically classed as suffering from depression. When these symptoms go on for a longer period of time then you are more likely to be classed as clinically depressed and if you feel suicidal or have had thoughts then urgent medical treatment should be sought.

Depression is increasingly common, anything of significance can trigger periods of depression or anxiety, for example work stress, financial problems or family turmoil are some of the main contributors to depression.

When suffering from depression curing it by popping a pill does not always mean that that you will be cured, some people can be on medication for their whole lives to keep it at bay, however some research shows that alternative treatments can prove to effective in treating depression and anxiety as well as forms of medication. Looking into the ways you can alleviate the feelings brought on by depression and anxiety can often be as effective as taking medication prescribed by doctors.

There are many ways to remove unwanted hair from your body like shaving tweezing and waxing it can be quite hard to know what is best for you especially with all the different types of hair removal products/methods available. There are two types of hair on the human body, terminal and vellus, terminal hair is dark, coarse and long and is what grows on our heads, pubic region, armpits and in men on their faces, chest, legs and back. Vellus hair is fine, soft and short women have vellus hair on their face, back and chest this type of hair provides insulation and helps the body maintain a steady temperature.

Shaving is the most common form of hair removal as it is easy and quick to do however the end results do not last that long normally only 1-3 days. Many women choose shaving for hair removal on their legs and their underarms as it can be easily done on a daily basis in the bath or in the shower, you will need a good razor which is not clogged or rusting and good shaving foam or shower gel.

If you don’t fancy shaving your legs every other day or everyday then there are other more long term hair removal products available, waxing is one of the most effective hair removal treatments although many people think it is a very painful process but if you have it done by a waxing London specialist then the treatment is over a lot quicker, waxing can leave your skin red and inflamed but that will subside after a day or so, with the results lasting 3-6 weeks. Before you visit a waxing London specialist the hairs need to be about ¼ inch long, you can get your legs, bikini area, eyebrows and any unwanted facial hair waxed.

Some people don’t always have the pain threshold for waxing if you feel you don’t then other long term hair removal methods include depilatory creams which remove hair from the skin’s surface by breaking down the bonds that give the hair it’s strength, which the hair so that it can be rinsed or wiped away, the results don’t last as long as waxing at around a couple of days to two weeks, however, some people may have a reaction to the chemicals in the cream. This could result in a rash or inflammation.

Some more permanent hair removal treatments are electrolysis and laser hair removal, with electrolysis, a needle is inserted into the hair follicle and an electric current is sent to the root of the hair to kill the root, results from electrolysis can be permanent when administered by a professional however it is a time consuming process. Laser hair removal treatment uses a laser aimed through the skin to the hair follicle where it stops hair growth, this procedure is effective and large areas can be done at one time however it can be expensive and like other methods can leave some redness after.