Good scents make good sense when it comes to nixing stress. According to a study from the School of Dentistry at Japan’s Meikai University, test subjects who inhaled lavender or rosemary essential oils for five minutes were found to have reduced levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their saliva samples as well as significantly […]

Getting angry every so often is, in fact, a very healthy thing to do, while keeping it all pent up inside is not. These seven ideas will help you vent your vexations more constructively. Take a break. Anger lowers inhibitions and causes you to blurt out things you later regret. In the heat of the […]

Some days are so hectic and stressful, emergency measures are called for. These three relaxation methods from Pamela Allardice need no special equipment – just five minutes and a floor. 1 Unclench every muscle This exercise is a powerful stress-buster; it also boosts your cognitive processing abilities, so you think more clearly. Lie on the […]

Anxiety accounts for 45 per cent of all mood disorders, according to a recent report published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and for the millions of Australians who commute daily by car, rush-hour can be a major source of stress. With traffic-related anxiety and road rage now formally recognised as a certified medical condition, […]

When you’re feeling stressed out it can be really hard to stick to your healthy eating goals. Suddenly you crave comfort foods like chocolate, chips or takeaways and lose all motivation for those gym visits. So it’s no surprise that many people gain weight during particularly stressful patches in life. But is it just a […]

Relaxation is vital to your health and wellbeing, but many people find it difficult to overcome stress and anxiety. Pamela Allardice offers 10 easy ways to unwind. Take mini breaks: “Hurry sickness” – being constantly busy – increases your heart rate and the production of cortisol (a stress hormone), and leaves you no time for […]

Sure, listening to music is enjoyable — but it seems it has hidden healing potential as well. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques indicate that music activates the brain’s ‘pleasure centres’, which in turn lower blood pressure, improve sleep quality, and reduce depression and anxiety. In a study from Temple University, Pennsylvania, patients who listened […]

‘Tis the season to have too much to do and no time to do it. These ideas will help you curb spending, reduce stress, and make Christmas more fun and less frustrating. 1. Ease indigestion: During this marathon of meals, sip 1 teaspoon of digestive bitters (from healthfood stores) in 50ml warm water after eating. […]

Drinking black tea might be the easiest way to beat stress, say English researchers. According to a University College London study of 75 adults, drinking four cups of plain black tea a day appears to cut levels of the hormone cortisol by a remarkable 20 per cent. (Cortisol is a potentially dangerous ‘stress hormone’, which […]