Health

She’s shed an incredible 30 kilos, now Mahalia Barnes is sharing her weight loss secrets with Woman’s Day. 1. Be honest Be realistic about what you’re eating and your portion sizes. On weight watchers, I believe the tracking is the most important thing! It takes away any excuses and holds you accountable for your choices. […]

Barb Cook was just 14 years old when her mother was dragged off to an asylum because she had autism. For the next 25 years, Barb tried keep her own symptoms hidden from medical professionals until she was finally diagnosed with Asperger’s at 40. Here, she writes about her journey from terror to acceptance and […]

Today’s tips are taken from the feedingkids.tv episode — Veggie and Mince Spaghetti. Getting kids to eat healthy food can be hard work. It’s all very well to cook up a storm, but what a dreadful waste of time if they won’t eat it. I hate cooking, so if I am going to do it […]

Tom Hanks has shocked fans revealing on US television that he suffers from Type 2 diabetes.

An Australian woman who was left infertile after undergoing ovarian cancer treatment is pregnant with twins after a world first ovarian tissue graft. Vali, 27, requested her ovarian tissue be frozen to preserve her fertility when cancer treatment forced her ovaries to lose function and eventually be removed. The cancer treatment left her menopausal at […]

Many people have told Dawn French, both in person and anonymously online, that she is too fat, but as far as she is concerned, her weight is not a problem. In a candid interview published in the September issue of The Australian Women’s Weekly, the 55-year-old comedienne explains that as long as she can walk, […]

Yet another beauty product that claims to delay the ageing process using antioxidants is hitting the shelves but this one has one key difference – you drink it instead of applying it. Proponents of Fountain The Beauty Molecule claim it can for the first time be ingested in a concentrated form and this is the […]

Make a warming massage oil for winter: place two chillies and a bunch of mint leaves in a jar with olive oil, leave on the windowsill for three weeks then strain. Test a little on the inside of your...

Make a warming massage oil for winter: place two chillies and a bunch of mint leaves in a jar with olive oil, leave on the windowsill for three weeks then strain. Test a little on the inside of your wrist before you use it, to make sure the chillies don’t leave too much fire!

Add a pot of strong, strained and cooled chamomile tea to baby's bath water. Wipe bottom with cod liver oil between nappy changes. (It doesn't smell too good, but does the trick in no...

Valerian helps you to relax without unpleasant or dangerous side effects. Because it has a strong odour and taste, you might prefer capsules of the dried herb instead of the...

To make a fragrant and effective natural deodorant, add two drops each of cypress, lemon and rosemary, and eight drops each of cedarwood and patchouli essential oils to 125ml of distilled...

Toothpaste has a drying effect on pimples - apply a dab to the pimple at night. Or, apply neat tea-tree oil or lavender oil with a cotton...

Apply cold wet chamomile tea bags to the inflamed area. Or, brew some chamomile tea, strain and cool, and dip a cloth in the tea and hold that over the...

For quick relief of the pressure of sinusitis congestion, try one teaspoon of finely grated horseradish mixed with apple cider vinegar and honey, to taste. just inhaling the fumes while you are...

Soak feet in strong tea for 15 minutes every day. Boil six tea bags in 250ml water, then pour the tea into a shallow tray containing two litres of cold...

Fresh strawberries have cleansing and bleaching properties and can help remove tea and coffee stains from teeth. Crush the strawberry gently and rub the pulp onto your teeth, then...

Make a pot of strong marigold tea (from health food stores) and steep for 10 minutes. Strain and cool. Add four drops of lavender oil to marigold tea and use to bathe the affected...

Chew one or two cloves, or apply a piece of cottonwool soaked in clove oil to the painful tooth and nearby gum. Clove acts as a...

Chop up some fresh pineapple, sprinkle liberally with salt and leave in a bowl overnight. Strain off the resulting juice. Store in a small bottle in the fridge and use to dab the warts three times...

Fresh strawberries have cleansing and bleaching properties and can help remove tea and coffee stains from teeth. Crush the strawberry gently and rub the pulp onto your teeth, then rinse.

Toothpaste has a drying effect on pimples – apply a dab to the pimple at night. Or, apply neat tea-tree oil or lavender oil with a cotton bud.

Add a pot of strong, strained and cooled chamomile tea to baby’s bath water. Wipe bottom with cod liver oil between nappy changes. (It doesn’t smell too good, but does the trick in no time.)

Valerian helps you to relax without unpleasant or dangerous side effects. Because it has a strong odour and taste, you might prefer capsules of the dried herb instead of the tea.

To make a fragrant and effective natural deodorant, add two drops each of cypress, lemon and rosemary, and eight drops each of cedarwood and patchouli essential oils to 125ml of distilled witch-hazel. Not only do essential oils smell good, but these ones have anti-microbial properties that help to neutralise odours. Store in a glass spray […]

Apply cold wet chamomile tea bags to the inflamed area. Or, brew some chamomile tea, strain and cool, and dip a cloth in the tea and hold that over the rash.

For quick relief of the pressure of sinusitis congestion, try one teaspoon of finely grated horseradish mixed with apple cider vinegar and honey, to taste. just inhaling the fumes while you are grating the horseradish is guaranteed to open your sinuses.

Soak feet in strong tea for 15 minutes every day. Boil six tea bags in 250ml water, then pour the tea into a shallow tray containing two litres of cold water.

Make a pot of strong marigold tea (from health food stores) and steep for 10 minutes. Strain and cool. Add four drops of lavender oil to marigold tea and use to bathe the affected area.

Chew one or two cloves, or apply a piece of cottonwool soaked in clove oil to the painful tooth and nearby gum. Clove acts as a painkiller.

Chop up some fresh pineapple, sprinkle liberally with salt and leave in a bowl overnight. Strain off the resulting juice. Store in a small bottle in the fridge and use to dab the warts three times daily.

Placing a block of camphor under the mattress sometimes helps prevent night cramps. Make a massage oil by combining six drops each of clove and rosemary oil with 30ml plain vegetable oil, shake well...

The next time you need an antibacterial ointment for a cut or wound, apply unprocessed (unheated and unaltered) honey. It contains a natural antibiotic that has proved effective against organisms...

Cut up one onion and three cloves of garlic. Place in a bowl and cover with honey, then leave for three hours. Strain. Sip a teaspoonful of the resulting syrup throughout the...

Add one bunch of parsley to 500ml of water. Bring water to the boil in a covered pan, turn off heat, and cool. Parsley is a natural diuretic and helps to flush out the micro-organisms that cause the...

Combine one tablespoon each of dried nettles and dried rosemary with two cups of apple cider vinegar. Bring to the boil, remove from heat, cover, and let it sit overnight. Strain. After shampooing...

Peel and grate an apple into a bowl. Wait until it goes brown - approximately 15 minutes - then eat...

An oatmeal skin wash is good for dry skin. Add one tablespoon of finely ground oatmeal to a bowl of warm water and use for rinsing face and...

Add two drops each of lavender and chamomile essential oils to a cup of spring water and mix well. Soak two cottonwool pads in the liquid, squeeze out the excess water and place a pad over each eye,...

Crush two cloves of garlic into two tablespoons of olive oil and warm gently over low heat. Strain. Drip a few drops into the ear and wad with cottonwool. (Note: Do not attempt this if you think the...

Blend 10 drops of marjoram, 15 drops of may chang (Litsea cubeba) and five drops of peppermint oil with 30ml of a base oil, such as almond. Put a few drops on a tissue and inhale to pep you up. Try...

Take three cups of dandelion tea each day in the week leading up to your period to relieve premenstrual...

Eating seeded chillies provides quick relief for sinus headaches.

Witchhazel is an excellent natural remedy for haemorrhoids because of its astringency. Saturate a cotton ball with distilled witch hazel and apply after each bowel movement and several times...

Soothe sore hands with a mixture of cold cooked mashed potato and olive oil. Simply massage into your skin, leave for 10 minutes, and rinse...

Add 10 drops of thyme essential oil to one teaspoon of shampoo. Mix well and apply the mixture to the scalp and hair. Leave the shampoo in the hair for five minutes before rinsing thoroughly with a...

Make fresh ginger tea. Peel and grate a small piece of fresh root ginger, place in a cup, pour over boiling water and steep for five minutes. Strain, sweeten with honey and drink. Another good idea...

Add two cups of Epsom salts to a tub of warm water. Soak for 20 minutes. Epsom salts contain magnesium, an excellent muscle relaxant and sedative for the nervous system. Drink passionflower tea 45...

To stop itching and inflammation of mosquito or other insect bites, apply one drop of peppermint oil directly to the bite. Peppermint has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic...

Combine four drops of clary sage oil with two teaspoons of a carrier oil, such as almond, and use to massage the lower abdomen, directly above the pubic hair...

Drink raspberry leaf tea, or simmer a few slices of peeled fresh ginger root and a 7.5mm stick of cinnamon in 150ml water, add honey and lemon, and...

Make this mouthwash, then gargle with it as often as necessary. Place two tablespoons of dried sage in a teapot, pour over 250mls boiling water. Steep for 15 minutes, then strain. Add three drops of...

Heat 200g of sea salt in a heavy pan. Funnel into a clean, cotton sock. (Don't overfill - you want to leave it pliable, like a beanbag.) Pin the end. Apply to the painful area for approximately 30...

Soothe sore hands with a mixture of cold cooked mashed potato and olive oil. Simply massage into your skin, leave for 10 minutes, and rinse off.

Add two cups of Epsom salts to a tub of warm water. Soak for 20 minutes. Epsom salts contain magnesium, an excellent muscle relaxant and sedative for the nervous system. Drink passionflower tea 45 minutes before bed. Pour one cup of boiling water over one teaspoon of dried passionflower. Cover and let steep for 15 […]

Placing a block of camphor under the mattress sometimes helps prevent night cramps. Make a massage oil by combining six drops each of clove and rosemary oil with 30ml plain vegetable oil, shake well, and use to massage the length of the muscle when a cramp starts.

The next time you need an antibacterial ointment for a cut or wound, apply unprocessed (unheated and unaltered) honey. It contains a natural antibiotic that has proved effective against organisms that cause infections.

Cut up one onion and three cloves of garlic. Place in a bowl and cover with honey, then leave for three hours. Strain. Sip a teaspoonful of the resulting syrup throughout the day.

Add one bunch of parsley to 500ml of water. Bring water to the boil in a covered pan, turn off heat, and cool. Parsley is a natural diuretic and helps to flush out the micro-organisms that cause the infection. After every visit to the toilet, soak a clear cottonwool pad in water to which you’ve […]

Combine one tablespoon each of dried nettles and dried rosemary with two cups of apple cider vinegar. Bring to the boil, remove from heat, cover, and let it sit overnight. Strain. After shampooing and rinsing your hair with plain water, pour the herbal rinse carefully through and leave in.

Peel and grate an apple into a bowl. Wait until it goes brown – approximately 15 minutes – then eat it.

An oatmeal skin wash is good for dry skin. Add one tablespoon of finely ground oatmeal to a bowl of warm water and use for rinsing face and neck.

Add two drops each of lavender and chamomile essential oils to a cup of spring water and mix well. Soak two cottonwool pads in the liquid, squeeze out the excess water and place a pad over each eye, then lie down with feet elevated higher than your head. Take bilberry tablets – they help strengthen […]

Crush two cloves of garlic into two tablespoons of olive oil and warm gently over low heat. Strain. Drip a few drops into the ear and wad with cottonwool. (Note: Do not attempt this if you think the eardrum could be perforated, or if there is discharge from the ear.)

Blend 10 drops of marjoram, 15 drops of may chang (Litsea cubeba) and five drops of peppermint oil with 30ml of a base oil, such as almond. Put a few drops on a tissue and inhale to pep you up. Try taking Siberian ginseng – this herb helps the body adapt more easily to both […]

Take three cups of dandelion tea each day in the week leading up to your period to relieve premenstrual bloating.

Eating seeded chillies provides quick relief for sinus headaches. Chillies loosen mucus secretions and increases blood flow in the sinuses, relieving the congestion that causes the headache.

Witchhazel is an excellent natural remedy for haemorrhoids because of its astringency. Saturate a cotton ball with distilled witch hazel and apply after each bowel movement and several times throughout the day to help shrink the swollen vein.

Add 10 drops of thyme essential oil to one teaspoon of shampoo. Mix well and apply the mixture to the scalp and hair. Leave the shampoo in the hair for five minutes before rinsing thoroughly with a 50-50 mix of apple cider vinegar and water. (Note: Because thyme essential oil is so powerful, is must […]

Make fresh ginger tea. Peel and grate a small piece of fresh root ginger, place in a cup, pour over boiling water and steep for five minutes. Strain, sweeten with honey and drink. Another good idea is to take Swedish bitters before every meal.

To stop itching and inflammation of mosquito or other insect bites, apply one drop of peppermint oil directly to the bite. Peppermint has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.

Combine four drops of clary sage oil with two teaspoons of a carrier oil, such as almond, and use to massage the lower abdomen, directly above the pubic hair line.

Drink raspberry leaf tea, or simmer a few slices of peeled fresh ginger root and a 7.5mm stick of cinnamon in 150ml water, add honey and lemon, and drink.

Make this mouthwash, then gargle with it as often as necessary. Place two tablespoons of dried sage in a teapot, pour over 250mls boiling water. Steep for 15 minutes, then strain. Add three drops of myrrh essential oil and shake well.

Heat 200g of sea salt in a heavy pan. Funnel into a clean, cotton sock. (Don’t overfill – you want to leave it pliable, like a beanbag.) Pin the end. Apply to the painful area for approximately 30 minutes. The heat helps stimulate circulation, bringing fresh blood to the area to speed healing.

Massage cod liver oil, rich in vitamin A, into cuticles and nails. After three months, nails will stronger and cuticles...

Bathe bruises in chilled hazel or arnica tincture to help contract the damaged blood vessels, making the bruise disappear more quickly than usual. Take bromelain tablets to relieve fluid build-up an...

Buy an aloe vera plant for the windowsill and, if you burn yourself, simply split open a leaf and apply its natural gel to promote...

Make a decongestant by adding a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to a glass of warm water and sipping...

Try an oatmeal bath. In a blender, grind dry rolled oats into a very fine powder. Add two cups to a bath of lukewarm water. Simply pat skin...

Pep up poor circulation by taking a mustard footbath. Simply add one tablespoon of dried mustard to a bowl of hot water and soak your...

If the sore is drying out, dab on a few drops of oil of St John's Wort. If it's weeping, brew some lemon balm tea, strain, and apply with a cotton...

Taking Echinacea at the first sign of a sniffle often bolsters the system sufficiently to help the body fight the virus. I also recommend tincture or tablets of astragalus, a powerful Chinese herb...

Peppermint tea provides relief by promoting digestion and helping to expel wind. To make, pour one cup of boiling water over two teaspoons of dried peppermint leaves. Cover and let sit for 15...

My Nanna's syrup of figs is still the best remedy. Combine half a cup each of chopped dried figs, raisins and pearl barley, and a quarter of a cup of chopped liquorice root (from health food stores)...

Massage cod liver oil, rich in vitamin A, into cuticles and nails. After three months, nails will stronger and cuticles smoother.

Bathe bruises in chilled hazel or arnica tincture to help contract the damaged blood vessels, making the bruise disappear more quickly than usual. Take bromelain tablets to relieve fluid build-up and residual swelling. Bromelain is an enzyme that has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.

Buy an aloe vera plant for the windowsill and, if you burn yourself, simply split open a leaf and apply its natural gel to promote healing.

Make a decongestant by adding a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to a glass of warm water and sipping frequently.

Try an oatmeal bath. In a blender, grind dry rolled oats into a very fine powder. Add two cups to a bath of lukewarm water. Simply pat skin dry.

Pep up poor circulation by taking a mustard footbath. Simply add one tablespoon of dried mustard to a bowl of hot water and soak your feet.

If the sore is drying out, dab on a few drops of oil of St John’s Wort. If it’s weeping, brew some lemon balm tea, strain, and apply with a cotton bud.

Taking Echinacea at the first sign of a sniffle often bolsters the system sufficiently to help the body fight the virus. I also recommend tincture or tablets of astragalus, a powerful Chinese herb known to improve immune function. Plus, try my potent ginger-garlic tea to fight off colds and flu. Simmer one teaspoon of grated […]

Peppermint tea provides relief by promoting digestion and helping to expel wind. To make, pour one cup of boiling water over two teaspoons of dried peppermint leaves. Cover and let sit for 15 minutes, then strain. Give the baby half a teaspoonful as often as needed.

My Nanna’s syrup of figs is still the best remedy. Combine half a cup each of chopped dried figs, raisins and pearl barley, and a quarter of a cup of chopped liquorice root (from health food stores) in a saucepan with one litre of water. Bring to boil and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes; strain. […]

Shopping has long been a guilty pleasure of Australian women, but a new survey shows they needn’t feel bad about the habit at all. The UK study, led by Wall’s Solero Exotic, found that women cover the equivalent of seven marathons per year during their shopping expeditions, burning off as much as 15,000 extra calories. […]

Eating disorders and behavioural disorders like autism are two of the biggest health issues plaguing teenagers, and researchers at the University of Cambridge may have found a link between the two. A new study has found teenage girls with obsessions with food and calorie counting share an above-average number of autistic traits — a neurodevelopmental […]

The government’s smoking tax has been criticised as a cash grab, but after losing her grandmother to cancer sticks, Zoe Arnold explains why taxation is one of the most effective tools in the fight against smoking. My Grandmother was the epitome of elegance in her youth. We have a picture of her in her 20s: […]

New research says fennel can do more than flavour our meals – it’s now said to be able improve women’s state-of-mind and wellbeing during their menstrual cycles. The aniseed-tasting herb is said to relieve pre-menstrual syndrome, after a test group of 36 women in Iran who took drops made from fennel seeds reported feeling less […]

More than 100 children with hand, foot and mouth disease were taken to NSW hospitals by worried parents in the latest fortnightly surveillance report. However, NSW Health says the worst of the deadly enterovirus 71 (EV71) outbreak is likely to be over. While the number of children being admitted to hospitals with severe neurological complications […]