We can learn to control pain in very much the same way as tension and anxiety, and this includes pain from organic as well as psychological causes. But before describing the self-management of painful conditions I shall discuss with you some particular aspects of pain. This will make it easier to understand exactly what we [...]

Q. After the food has spent its appointed time in the duodenum, what is the next step? A. The food then passes to the small intestine. This is a long continuous tube that coils round and round, and fills the area which is commonly known as ‘the tummy’ or ‘gut’ in colloquial talk. It roughly [...]

An extremely common condition that’s estimated to affect millions of people every day, sciatica can be broadly defined as a pain or other unpleasant or disturbing sensation that is generally felt in one or more of the following areas of the body: the lower back, the buttocks, the outer sides of the thigh and calf, [...]

The Chinese “boat people” of Hong Kong, according to Lancet, traditionally feed their babies only from the right breast and, among their menopausal women who develop breast cancer, tumors are several times more common on the left side than the right. Other populations sometimes show a slight difference in breast tumor sidedness but never a [...]

Signs and symptoms Any marked delay in a child’s achieving speech or an impairment of speech raises the suspicion of a speech or hearing problem. Home care If your baby is to learn to speak adequately, he or she must be spoken to and listened to. Incorrect speech should be corrected, but a child should [...]

Orris Root Orris is a powder obtained from the root of the iris flower; it was used previously in many kinds of cosmetics because it has a pleasant odor, its color is like that of the human flesh to which it clings firmly, and it holds its scent for a long period of time. Cosmetics [...]

What is a Miscarriage? The medical term for miscarriage is ‘spontaneous abortion’ and it occurs before week 24 of pregnancy. After 24 weeks, the delivery of a baby which has died is called a stillbirth. Many women do not like the term ‘spontaneous abortion’ as it reminds them of ‘induced abortion’ which is the deliberate [...]

Much of modern life makes our eyes lazy-eye exercises appear to help improve vision simply by re-educating the eyes. There are several exercises that are claimed to help. For example, memories a small object with your eyes open, then after getting a clear mental picture, close your eyes and try to remember it as well [...]

  All of the feelings and emotions of living with endometriosis are complex and difficult, but it is important to remember that you have to be the one to make and accept your decisions. Sue’s story I’m out and about and then I get the standard question: ‘How are you?’. I give my usual answer: [...]

Safety at work •     Be sure to use protective equipment, guards etc., where they are provided. If a particular situation seems to you to be dangerous and to need protective clothing or equipment, tell your manager or employer, or your union representative. •     Help newcomers to be aware of any dangers in your place of [...]