There are no figures available for the prevalence of this debilitating condition in the UK, although it seems that it blights the lives of many women and is on the increase. Patients often go on an exhausting route visiting GPs, urologists and gynaecologists with little success. Orthodox treatment seems to be purely symptomatic and unable to address the underlying cause of this condition, which women are told they have to live with. Consultant Medical Herbalist Deborah Grant BSc(Hons) MNIMH reports…

Premenstrual Syndrome is a condition which affects many women during the one or two weeks before menstruation begins. It is characterised by troublesome but usually harmless symptoms including breast tenderness, mood swings, bloating, depression and backache.

How to spot and prevent AMD – the leading cause of blindness in the UK.

By: The College of Optometrists

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blindness in the UK, affecting an estimated 500,000 people. Although the condition may not make itself apparent until later in life, preventative measures can be started much earlier.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is the most common gastro-intestinal disorder reported to GPs and up to 50% of referrals to gastroenterologists are for IBS.

Thyroid cancer represents 1% of new cancer diagnoses annually. Thyroid cancer is about 3 times more common in women than men and is usually diagnosed between the age of 25 to 65, peaking in the 3rd and 4th decades.

Everyone has a blood pressure, which is need to help pump blood around the body. Having high blood pressure means that you heart has to work harder to pump blood. This increases the risks of adverse effects.

Stress is an unavoidable fact of life and it’s normal to feel stressed or anxious at some time. A certain amount of stress can be a good and positive thing as it keeps us lively and enthusiastic. Too much stress causes strain and tension and if those feelings persist or affect your life it’s important to seek help. Although people react to stress in many different ways, the effects on our bodies is often the same.

Neck pain is very common with almost 50% of people being affected at some point in their lives. Acute neck pain is usually the result of bad posture or a minor injury and usually clears up of it’s own accord with rest, painkillers and gentle stretching.