Heal Yourself

Headaches

• Tension headaches occur more often when you’re stressed, so, relax more, get enough sleep, and take regular exercise. Drink six large glasses of water daily
• Try acupressure. Use your thumbs to gently massage your temples. Massage the fleshy part between your thumb and first finger.
• Dilute a few drops of peppermint oil on your palm and gently spread across your temples. One German study found that peppermint reduced headache pain as effectively as a conventional painkiller.

Cough and Sore Throat

• Gargle with salt water to help relieve a sore throat
• Suck on a piece of candy. Forget anti-bacterial lozenges – mint candy will do just as well. It stimulates mucus and saliva production and helps soothe soreness by lubricating the surfaces of your throat.

Insomnia

• Make sure your bedroom is quiet and comfortable
• Wait until you feel sleepy to go to bed and avoid daytime naps. Get up and go to bed at the same time each day to avoid disrupting your cycle.
• Avoid caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and exercise four hours before bedtime
• Have a hot bath. “It improves circulation and enables your body to reach a temperature at which you can easily fall asleep.
• Use visualization to help relieve the worries of the day. Imagine putting all your stressful thoughts into a cabinet and locking it.

Colds

• Drink plenty of fluids (excluding coffee, tea or alcohol)
• Steam from a hot bath relieves a blocked nose, and can raise your body temperature
• Nuts are rich in zinc, which is vital for immunity. Try eating more zinc-rich food such as red meat and seafood or taking a supplement. Zinc lozenges may help too.

Heartburn and Indigestion

• Opt for smaller, more frequent meals. Eat slowly and chew thoroughly.
• Don’t eat late at night
• Avoid triggers – common ones are caffeine, alcohol, spicy, or fatty foods
• Ginger helps digestion. Get ginger root capsules at health food stores, ginger tea at supermarkets.