Nightmares occur during changes in the sleep cycle, and are included in the group of conditions known as the ‘arousal disorders’. They are the same as the bad dreams and nightmares that adults have. The child may wake suddenly during the night, frightened and distressed, and will often cry out for the parents. The child [...]

A technique known as Lord’s procedure is increasingly used. It is postulated that there is a tight band of tissue, just inside the anal margin, forming part of the sphincter muscle which keeps the bowel opening closed. Under a deep but short-acting general anaesthetic, the surgeon distends the sphincter, disrupting this tight band. At the [...]

The periods may cease suddenly but this is unusual. More often, there is a reduction in the amount of bleeding and occasional periods are missed. The total change may take several months or even a year or two. Sometimes the reverse happens and the periods become heavier and more frequent, due to some associated disorder. [...]

Some forms of diarrhoea are emotionally based. The intestine is a good barometer of the body’s inner feelings and of the brain in particular. These are called ‘non specific diarrhoea’. ‘Most of the young children whose mothers say they have loose, frequent or bulky stools do not suffer from malabsorption. Their physical growth is normal [...]

‘You know, any sort of emotional situation can often be reflected in this manner. Other children may show it in different ways, perhaps by developing aches and pains in different parts of the body. I have a little chap who regularly throws asthma attacks when he feels he is being neglected. Others throw tantrums, develop [...]

Naturopathy is a term which is applied to the treatment of disease by a range of natural therapies as opposed to surgery, pharmaceuticals, X-rays, chemotherapy etc. A qualified naturopath is versed in therapies such as nutrition, fasting, herbalism, therapeutic massage, iridology and manipulation. The underlying philosophy of naturopathy is that the body is capable of [...]

Cradle cap (seborrhoeic dermatitis) is a skin condition in which yellowish, scaly, or crusty patches appear on the scalp. The crusty patches are made up largely of oil and dead skin cells. Cradle cap is most common in infants, but it is seen in children through age five. Temporary loss of hair is common. Signs [...]

Fix your schedule. Compared to keeping your wife, mother, and kids happy, scheduling in your three exercise modes should be simple. For general health, a 3-2-5 plan should work, says Ed Burke, Ph.D., vice president of the National Strength and Conditioning Association in Colorado Springs and co-author of Getting in Shape. Put your two strength-training [...]

Main NACNE (the UK Advisory Council on Nutrition Education) recommendations: •    Don’t worry about how much cholesterol you eat •    Don’t change the amount of protein you eat •    Reduce alcohol intake to 4 per cent of total calories at most. (This means in practice a maximum of one pint of beer or two glasses of wine a [...]

Varicose veins affect men and women equally. You have to rest your legs, above your heart, by lying down and putting a pillow under your ankles, twice a day for about 20 minutes if possible. It is important not to wear clothes that are too tight, especially underclothing. This can cut off the circulation and [...]