Herbs keep the flab away by boosting your metabolism and resting thermogenesis (your metabolism when you are sitting still). Medical herbalist Dominique Finney says the best time lose weight is when you’re resting. “The most effective weight loss programs incorporate herbal medicines with exercise. The aim is to keep your energy boosted all day and night, even when you are sleeping.”

    “Herbal medicines can also assist with detoxification of the liver, digestive tract and blood stream. We all carry from three to ten kilos of excess putrid matter in our digestive tract and the herbs help eliminate this excess.”

     With the current offerings in the ever-increasing market place, even the most health conscious can be left feeling confused. So let’s take a closer look at which supplements do what.

Magnesium

Magnesium is known as the anti-stress mineral. Given that stress is a contributing factor to weight gain, it makes sense to dose up. If you are overweight and lack magnesium you could be missing a link to increasing your metabolism. Research shows a rise in resting metabolism in obese people when they take extra magnesium.

Chromium picolinate

Sweet tooths should give chromium picolinate a go, as it not only works as an appetite suppressant, but helps cure cravings. Naturopath Aimee Robbins says increased chromium levels help muscle cells and the liver store more glucose, boost energy levels and reduce body fat. “High glucose storage in the liver also reduces hunger pains and the desire for food.”

Chitosan

Chitosan is a fat inhibitor, which appears to work miracles for those in search of a safe way to lose body fat. This dietary fibre works by absorbing up to ten times its weight in fat and oils, carrying them out of the body before they have a chance to reach the stomach and be metabolised.

HCA

Hydroxy citric acid is used in Indian and Thai food as a condiment. It serves as an appetite suppressant and stops carbohydrates being turned to fat in the liver. Animal studies show HCA could reduce fat production from 40 to 70% for up to 12 hours after eating.

Carb blockers

The critical ingredient of carb blockers comes from the white kidney bean. The extract interferes with an enzyme in the body called alpha-amylase, which is responsible for breaking down carbohydrates. The carbs are excreted form the body before they enter the bloodstream and turn to fat.

    Finney however, prefers her clients to eat a good ratio of carbs and protein, rather than rely on carb blockers. “Carb blockers can be effective when we know we’ll be eating a lot of carbs. They will help you lose weight quickly, but are not ideal for long-term use, as the weight loss is unsustainable.”

Dandelion

This is a gentle herb that cleanses both the liver and kidneys, while removing excess fluids. It’s particularly helpful for those on a low carb diet where it’s important to keep the eliminative organs well flushed. A study on mice saw them lose 30% of their body weight when fed dandelion over a 30-day period.

Gugglesterones

Guggle has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries to treat a variety of conditions, including obesity. It is known for increasing the thyroid gland’s actions to boost metabolism and is stimulant free. Studies have shown it drastically reduces cholesterol and can help reduce body fat levels.

Guarana

Guarana is one of the richest sources of caffeine (it has three times as much as coffee), which is why it impairs the appetite. Because of its stimulating effect on the body it helps burn fat while also providing tonic and diuretic actions. It will also give you an energy boost, taking the effort out of exercise.

Brindleberry

Brindleberry has been used in Thai and Indian cuisine for years and is probably the best herb to suppress your appetite and keep it suppressed between meals. Robbins says it blocks excess glucose being converted into fat. “It should be used with chromium to assist increased muscle and liver uptake of glucose.”

Black Walnut

Black walnut’s fame in folk medicine is due to its cleansing properties. It helps add extra motion to the large intestine and eliminate build-ups in the bowel pockets as well as helping eradicate parasites. Herbalists classify it as an astringent because it is rich in tannin, which helps tone the body.

Amino Acids

Body builders have been using amino acids for many years to sculpt and tone body mass. Amino acids are particularly helpful for those who are doing a lot of exercise as they are the building blocks for protein, and are needed to build and repair muscle.

Of course the list doesn’t end there. Taking a green food such as spirulina, barley, or alfalfa daily will help reduce appetite. If the thyroid is slow in regulating metabolism then a supplement of kelp may be warranted.

    Herbs and supplements will help speed up weight loss, but diet is critical. Finney says the old saying that you need to burn more calories than you put in your mouth is a key to weight loss. “A good sustainable dietary and exercise regime help you lose weight and gain a feeling of wellness whilst dieting.”

 drink yourself slim

With only four calories per serving, teas are a must for not only boosting metabolism, but flushing the toxins from your body and staving off hunger. The caffeine increases body function to help burn more calories and the polyphenols aid the digestion of fat. 

Thousands of studies talk up the weight loss benefits of green tea, but oolong tea, brindleberry, dandelion, st.marys thistle, globa artichoke and guarana teas will also help shed the kilos.

Spice up your food

Forget flavouring your food with salt, try adding some herbs and spices. Research shows most herbs are rich in antioxidants, which support weight loss. Try allspice, basil, clove, coriander, dill, fennel leaves, mint, nutmeg, parsley, rosemary or sage. Cinnamon is another winner that enhances insulin activity.

Damage control

The best way to be prepare our feet for footwear of the heel variety, is to make sure you keep your calves well stretched. The muscles in the calf are shortened in heels, and you should stretch them every time your wear them. Stand on a step or a thick book and let your heels hang down. Relax. Stay there for 60 seconds or more.
    Yoga teach Natasha Tay, says our feet form the stable base from which many yoga postures begin. “They not only provide us with stability in yoga and in life, but are also the point of the body that connects us to the earth and grounds us.”
     Garbutt agrees: “The soles of our feet are rich in sensory nerves, and so they should be stimulated by the ground we are on, to activate the muscles. We spend far too much time on unnaturally hard flat surfaces, and in shoes which ‘blind’ our feet.”
     You also want to strengthen your toes. Garbutt suggests picking things up with your toes. “This helps activate the often neglected muscles within your feet, which help support the foot naturally.
    Another great exercise is the small foot. This involves keeping your heels and toes on the ground flat, but drawing your arch up, so that your foot shortens. Hold this position for ten seconds, then repeat five times, twice a day. Once comfortable with this, then you can walk around the room like this, helping to activate the arch muscles during walking.

Other exercises to strengthen the feet:

Toe Raise, Toe Point, Toe Curl: Hold each position for five seconds. Repeat ten times.

Toe Squeeze: Place small corks or toe guards between toes and squeeze for five seconds. Repeat ten times.

The Gold Ball: Roll a golf ball under the ball of your foot for two minutes. This is great for foot cramps.

Sand-walking: Any chance you get, take off your shoes and walk in the sand. It massages and exfoliates your feet while strengthening your toes.

Marble pick-up: Place a handful of marbles on the floor. Pick up one at a time and put them in a small bowl. Then take them all out again, one by one.

If you consider that we log thousands of kilometers in our lifetime, and our feet provide the support through the journey, it’s no wonder they can sometimes pipe up in painful protest. That’s why a massage can also help. Rubbing and squeezing the foot helps relieve aches, manually increases the range of motion and stretches all the muscles.

    The other thing to be wary of, is that you are wearing the right size shoes – make sure they’re comfortable when you try them on. The mistake many women make, is thinking they can ‘break them in’ if they are uncomfortable at first.
    A UK doctor has warned women to wear high heels ‘in moderation’ after a string of shoe related hospital admissions. Senior emergency unit expert Dr Rupert Evans has seen an increase in the number of women being admitted, with injuries caused by the fashionable footwear.
    “High heel-wearing women arriving by ambulance sustained injuries varying from sprains to broken bones, dislocated ankles – and in some cases permanent damage. Bunions and hammer toes have also been linked to heels. Evans advice: “Try to have shoes with a strap and keep the heel height down to 4cm.”

Don’t give in to the fashion police

Summer is the season to show off those amazing calves, so don’t feel like you have to miss out on all the flirty fashion. Simply look for foot-friendly attire: the shorter and fatter the heel, the better. Sandals also do less damage to the legs and back, just make sure you choose ones that support the foot.
    Garbutt says when it comes to thongs it would be downright un-Australian not to like them. “That said, they do tend to encourage poor walking technique. On the plus side, they are easy to slip off and carry if you come across some natural ground to walk across and give your feet a stimulation session. And don’t forget the sunscreen; the tan line really isn’t very cool!”
    Women ignore the warnings for cosmetic reasons. But really, heels are just like chocolate. You don’t have to stop eating it altogether, but you should save it for special occasions. Tay says if you can’t avoid bad shoes altogether, moderation is the key to minimize damage. “Summer is the perfect time to get out of your shoes and reconnect with the earth.”

Tay says standing yoga poses help balance and reverse the negative effects of wearing heels, by creating greater strength and flexibility in the feet and leg muscles. She suggests trying this simple balance pose:

Stand with your feet together and arms outstretched at shoulder height. Find a stationary point to focus on. Put your weight on your left foot and place the heel of your right foot in front of, and touching your left big toe. Your feet should be in a straight line. When you find that point of balance, focus your attention on your feet, noticing how hard they have to work to keep you there.

    Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese philosophy, which when translated, relates to the wind and water or the natural forces of the universe. It is said that Feng Shui manipulates the flow of ‘chi’ or energy, therefore bringing luck, prosperity and happiness into people’s lives.

    Wong Russell says energy cannot be seen, but we feel it, and utilise it everyday. “The sun’s rays, although we cannot see them, feel fabulous when they shine on us, however too much can burn us. Currents of electricity and radio waves cannot be seen, but are useful and harmful at the same time.”

    “In the same way, the chi of the earth can be harnessed to maximise the helpful energy available to us, and reduce the harmful energies that exist. Getting the “feng shui right”, is about balancing the energies that are present, and understanding how to best maintain this balance,” says Wong Russell.

How to get chi flowing

The first step to creating a beautiful environment is to clear out all the clutter. Try to keep a handle of what enters your home so you avoid living in Santa’s grotto and feeling totally overwhelmed by the experience. “Energy flows in an environment that is clear, clean and clutter free. It becomes stagnant in dusty, cluttered places,” says Wong Russell.

    Christmas can bring with it a whole new opportunity for clutter to surreptitiously enter your home in the guise of gift paper, cards, party invites, decorations, unwanted gifts and the list goes on and on. Clear out the home before Christmas to allow space to welcome in friends, family and opportunities in the New Year.

    Once you have cleared the space, Wong Russell advises to cleanse it with a clearing spray. “You can make your own with pure essential oils in a water spritzer. Light some natural beeswax or soy candles. The flickering flame is very yin, and creates a reflective mood. It also assists in maintaining the yin yang balance through what is often an extremely busy and hectic day.”

    She says the entrance, as the mouth of the home, is where the majority of chi enters. “A clean front porch with a Christmas wreath on the door symbolises an open, accepting and welcoming family. Ensure all cobwebs and dust are swept away promoting a readiness to move forward in a positive direction.”

    Burning incense sticks before your guests arrive will also alter the energy of the home and those who enter it. Smoke has always been a great purifier, which is why you’ll see large urns full of incense at the entrance of a Buddhist temple. People will stop to breath in the smoke as a way of purifying their souls before entering the temple.

Prime positioning for the Christmas tree

A pine tree is a traditional Chinese symbol for longevity! Interestingly, this is the tree that is the central focus of the Christmas season. Placing the tree in an area where the family often come together will help promote family harmony and abundance. If you’re standing at the main entrance to the room, the best positioning is along the left side of the room, either centre left or far left corner.

    Wong Russell says the tree needs to be safe, stable and secure, whilst being easily accessible and touchable. “The children will be rummaging underneath so there needs to be ample air and space around it. Remember to keep the glass balls and breakable decorations up a little higher if children are involved.”

    “The sight of a brightly lit Christmas tree through a window is evocative, but walking into a home, seeing and smelling a freshly cut tree creates a sensory delight and anticipation of what’s to come. Positioning the tree so it’s sighted as you walk into a home is ideal,” says Wong Russell.

Eat in harmony

Christmas meals should be enjoyed at a round or oval dining table as opposed to a rectangle one. A circular shape is symbolic of eternal unity, promoting harmony and equality with everyone seeing eye-to-eye. If a round table arrangement is not possible, be sure to set an even number of chairs.

    A red tablecloth will stimulate appetite but avoid putting spiky leaves on table decorations as they create a feeling of fear and aggressiveness. “Remove sharp knives from being on show in the kitchen. By placing them out of sight you symbolically diminish the scope for irritability and family arguments,” says Wong Russell.

    “High candles in the middle of a table can impair eye contact between guests, contributing to difficulties with communication. If possible, have a separate serving table to prevent overcrowding at the dinner table. The feeling of personal space between guests promotes comfort and ensures communication flow throughout the meal.”

Cheerful colourings

Colour plays an important role in determining your general mood and state of mind. Consider introducing strong Yang colours such as purple to create Feng Shui harmony in the home. Purple is a very powerful colour associated with the earth element and helps with balancing and grounding. That said, it is best to keep it away from the dinner table.

    Wong Russell says the colour of your decorations help create festive cheer as well. “Use white, metallic, gold and silver, especially in the northern area of the home. Black and deep dark navy blues are also a good choice. A pure metal wind chime with six or seven rods can also be hung to promote positive energy.”

Getting in the festive spirit

Wong Russell says anticipating the day will be full of tension will ensure a day full of tension. “Instead, spend a few moments every day from now, picturing the most fabulous Christmas day where everyone enjoys themselves, the company is fantastic, the food is tasty and everything flows smoothly. Visualise it coming together for you perfectly.” 

    “On Christmas Eve when you climb into bed, set your intention to sleep soundly and wake up refreshed on Christmas morning. When you awake, take three to five minutes before you climb out of bed to notice positive aspects surrounding you. This will help align you with your most positive vibration so you’re receptive to wonderful experiences that day,” says Wong Russell.?

Tips for creating more festive cheer

Do’s

-       Create a nativity scene: the symbology can draw the children in on Christmas Day.

-       Place sofas and seating in your living room in a circular or octagonal shape: this aids favourable communication.

-       Indulge the senses: aromas such as pine or cinnamon add to the festive feeling.

-       Burn candles in the north-east of the home: this will hep avert danger, anger and arguments.

Don’ts

-       Avoid sitting guests with their backs to each other: this hinders the flow of communication.

-       Avoid the use of mirrors: they can scatter energy and create a feeling of unease.

-       Avoid L-shaped arrangements in the living area: it can cause imbalance or one family member to feel cut off from the rest.  

-       Avoid placing a large coffee table in the centre of your living room: leave the space clear to free up chi flow.

-       Don’t put candles or a water feature in the west of the home: this will attract sickness.

    Medical herbalist Dominique Finney says sugar is first pressed as a juice from the cane and refined into molasses, it is then refined into brown sugar and finally into strange white crystals that are an alien chemical to the human system. “Refined sugar is too processed for our body to handle, at least not in anywhere near the quantities that we now ingest due to today’s lifestyle.”

    The average person now downs around 50 kilos of sugar per year. It is considered a ‘food’ and ingested in massive quantities. We only need one teaspoon of sugar a day for metabolic functions, but many of us end up eating up to 20, thanks to hidden sources like snack bars, salad dressings and even bread.

    Finney says sugar is not addictive; it is the fast fuel hit that makes it so appealing. “Sugar is metabolised quickly so you feel an almost immediate surge in energy. Like any drug, be it alcohol or even Panadol, it has an instant effect. The problem is when the hit wears off, you dip down to the doldrums again and are left wanting more.”

    She says a healthier option would be to eat a bowl of complex carbohydrates like brown rice, or whole meal bread which release energy slowly over a longer period of time. “Sugar is not filling in the same way that more complex carbohydrates are filling, so therefore we can unconsciously consume a lot of it without noticing,” Finney says.

dangers

Sports Dietitian and Nutrition Consultant Alison Miles, says humans need sugar as much as they need nicotine and tobacco. “Refined sugar has no nutritional value and has been linked to mental disorders, dental cavities, not to mention hypoglycaemia and enlargement of the lower kidneys.”

    One of the major drawbacks of sugar is that it raises insulin levels, which inhibits the release of growth hormones, and in turn weakens the immune system. This is not something you want to take place if you are keen to avoid diseases such as diabetes and cancer.

    Finney says sugar increases over-growth of the Candida yeast organism which causes thrush. “It can also trigger binge eating in those with bulimia as well as increasing PMS symptoms.”

    Miles says if that wasn’t enough, sugar can make it difficult to lose weight because of constantly high insulin levels, which cause the body to store excess carbohydrates as fat. “The white granules are nothing more than empty calories, which create excess energy and lead to weight gain.”

    Not only is refined sugar a dangerous foe, Finney says it’s a sneaky one, hiding in an extraordinary range of foods, including yoghurt, canned items, most sweets – even tomato sauce. “There is nothing wrong with a small amount of sugar in your diet, but that can be hard to measure these days with so many processed foods.”

dodgy deals

High fructose corn syrup is another baddy that finds its way into tons of foods, because of how cheap it is to produce. Manufacturers love its versatility and put it in nearly everything: juice, beer, energy bars, cookies and even frozen goods.

    Like refined sugar, it has a negative, dramatic effect on our blood-sugar levels. According to studies conducted by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, diabetes and obesity are directly linked to eating refined sugar and high fructose corn syrup.

    Switching refined sugar for artificial sweeteners can be even more detrimental to our health. Research shows that saccharin can be a possible contributing cause to cancer and its mate aspartame (found in NutraSweet and Equal) has been shown to turn into formaldehyde in your body.

    Splenda may lack calories, but it’s no good either, containing small amounts of heavy metals, methanol and arsenic. It is difficult to know the long-term effects of these sweeteners, but given that they are surrounded by suspicious it’s best to turn to the healthy choices.

Natural Sweeteners 

Lets be realistic, if you like sweet treats, it can be a real struggle to eliminate sugar from your diet. But rest assured, there are natural, healthier alternatives that don’t carry any of the dangers of refined sugar and are full of health benefits.

STEVIA: Given that Stevia is 200 times sweeter than sugar it’s no surprise that it is referred to as the Queen of herbal sweeteners. The Japanese have been using it for decades, South Americans for centuries. In fact, this wonder-sweetener is used by hundreds of millions of people around the world to lower high blood pressure, reduce cravings for sweets, and aid digestion.

    With no kilojoules and zero GI, Stevia stimulates the pancreas rather than stressing it. Stevia has only a mild effect on blood sugar levels, making it ideal for diabetics. Scientific studies have also found that it can reduce acne, help heal wounds, and sooth an upset stomach.

XYLITOL: Xylitol naturally occurs in fruit and vegetables, providing just two calories per teaspoon. While sugar is acid-forming, Xylitol is alkalising, helping to prevent dental plaque build-up and tooth decay. It also promotes bone health and boosts immunity. Its low GI means it doesn’t cause blood sugar dips or yeast overgrowth like refined sugar can.

RAW HONEY: Honey is an all-round healing elixir, which can promote general health and wellbeing. A daily dose will boost the body’s supply of antioxidants, essential for protecting the body from free radicals. It is also rich in vitamin C, riboflavin, thiamine, niacin, iron and manganese.

    Honey is one of Finney’s personal favourites. “I love mixing honey with organic black tea, a little chilli powder and a slice of vanilla pod. I call it honey vanilla chilli tea and its delicious.” At traditional Indian weddings, the bridegroom is often offered honey to boost his stamina – perhaps this is why Cupid’s emblem was a bee!

AGAVE NECTAR:  Derived from the Mexican Agave Cactus, this high-nutrient sweetener is full of vitamins and minerals. Because it absorbs slowly into the bloodstream, it doesn’t have a big impact on blood-sugar levels. Agave Nectar provides 20 calories per teaspoon and is significantly sweeter than refined sugar, so you use less. It has a low GI and can be used in place of sugar in any recipe.

Other good substitutes for refined sugar include maple syrup, evaporated cane juice, Sucanat, brown rice syrup, barley malt syrup, raw sugar, beet sugar, date sugar, and molasses. All of these natural sweeteners possess one or more of the following health benefits: enzymes, calcium, iron, potassium, protein, the B vitamins, magnesium, chromium, fibre, and folic acid.

Now just because you have healthier alternative, that doesn’t mean you can eat naturally sweetened biscuits three meals a day, but it does mean you can have your cake and eat it. Miles says the trick is moderation. “I encourage my clients to indulge in sweet foods occasionally, rather than treating them as everyday foods.”

Become a LABEL READER

Sugar is in more foods than many realise. Where possible, choose products with less than 10g of sugar per 100g. If it’s more than 10g, check that fruit or milk appears before sugar in the ingredients list.

How to avoid SUGAR CRAVINGS

The best way to prevent physical sugar cravings is to eat regularly. Have three balanced meals per day with planned nutritious snacks. By regularly filling up, and then topping up your petrol tank (stomach), you never run completely empty – which is usually when cravings strike.

Emotional based cravings can be overcome by learning to distract yourself. Draw up a list of 10 activities you can do instead of eating when a craving strikes, such as going for a walk, giving yourself a facial, or calling a friend. A craving usually passes in 20 min – so find a distraction!

    Success coach Mike Palmer says flirting is important because it’s where the initial connection or attraction is made or lost. “Our physical attraction to someone is not a logical process, it is something that just happens and it is my belief that it happens directly in proportion to how well you know the flirting and dating principles.”

    One of the keys to flirting for women is to let it be known you are available and interested. Dating Expert Sandy Ewing says playfulness is a feminine energy and that is irresistible to men.  “If a woman is being playful he can feel safer to approach.”

    “Smiling is the easiest way to attract a man’s attention. Look his way, smile and hold the gaze for a fraction longer than you normally would. Wait a moment then follow up with a second glance in his direction,” Ewing says. “Exposing your wrists, playing with your hair and licking your lips are also effective in showing a man you’re interested.”

    For men, Palmer says it’s all about making a confident approach. “Men need to distinguish themselves from other men and show in an energetic and fun way that they are not like every other guy who has come up and spoken to that woman.”

    His advice is to forget practiced pickup lines, which can be a real turn-off. “People who get rapport easily with others will never need a practiced pick up line. Going up to the opposite sex and saying ‘Hi’ with a big smile on your face will do the trick just fine. It’s all about the person’s confidence.”

Creating Confidence

“Fundamentally our needs and desires have not changed since the dawn of man so women still want someone who is a strong hunter and protector. In modern times, the way to show that is through confidence,” Palmer says.

    A lack of confidence will limit a person’s opportunities of meeting someone, because it puts out an invisible barrier. Sandy Ewing says it’s more risky for someone to approach a person who is fearful because there is less certainty about how they will react. “For someone with a low self-esteem, the best bet is to ‘fake it til you make it’.”

    Palmer says increasing your confidence can be as simple as sitting down and taking stock of who you are – noting down both your strengths and your weaknesses. “Confidence is not about believing you can do anything, confidence is about KNOWING – knowing your abilities and talents and also knowing your weaknesses and boundaries.”

Building Rapport

Once contact’s been made, the conversation can begin. Ditch the boring old questions: Do you come here often? What do you do for a crust? Be creative and edgy. Notice what the person is wearing and make comments on their hair or watch. For example, “I like that star around your neck, does it mean anything?”

    Building rapport is a key element of successful flirting because it can create a powerful connection that helps both parties relax.  Ewing says rapport is gained by subtly matching and mirroring the other persons’ posture, gestures, expressions, tone of their voice, even their energy.  “It is also useful to use the same words or adjectives so that there is a greater relatedness in the conversation.”

    “Keep the conversation positive, and instead of focusing on how you feel inside, try making the other person comfy. Pay genuine compliments and listen to what they have to say. Be curious and ask open-ended questions,” Ewing says.

Sending signals

You cannot think something without your non-verbal language broadcasting it to the world.  Research shows that actions speak louder than words; communication is 55 percent body language, 38 percent tonality, and just seven percent words.

    Being able to read other people’s signals opens up a new lexicon of understanding. Solid eye contact and plenty of smiling are sure signs of interest. Leaning towards the other person, having an open stance or beautifying one-self – ie. flicking their hair, straightening clothes – are also a good guide.

    On the other hand, a closed off stance, turning away or a lack of reactions are a good indication that you’re wasting your time. Other red light signals to watch out for are yawning, crossed arms and glancing around the room.

The battle of the sexes

Men are hunters and providers, while women are gatherers and nurturers. Men enjoy the thrill of the chase, by pursuing a woman and they like to be useful. Women on the other hand, want to be pursued, enjoy being seduced and like to look after and nurture their relationships.

    Treat dating as a journey rather than a destination and enjoy the ride. Don’t get caught up in meeting Mr Right straight away and delight in the strangeness of it all – dating should be fun not like the Spanish Inquisition! The key is to know what you want and go after it.

    Flirting isn’t just for pubs and nightclubs. Palmer says practise your skills in the supermarket, the gym, or at any event that incorporates your interests. “Let your imagination run wild. And remember: there is no such thing as the perfect partner, but you can find the perfect partner for YOU.”

The six principles of becoming a ‘Fabulous Flirt’:

Know yourself

Know what you want

Be playful

Focus on other’s comfort

Attitude equals altitude

Understand the differences

Be patient

    Medical Intuitive Carmel Bell says we engage in negative self talk out of fear. “It is easier to believe that we are unworthy than to believe we have a right to be happy.  It means we can easily live up to expectation without having to try. The problem is that indulging in such negativity stops us from achieving and having fun.”

    “Negative self talk can be cunningly hidden in things that are so self deprecating that we fail to notice them, like ‘Oh, I am no good at knitting. I never was… ’ With this statement in mind they don’t have to try.  It has now become a fact of their life,” Bell says.

   Our internal dialogue directly impacts how successful we’ll be in life and therefore how we feel. Many people become their own obstacles to success with negative inner talk and beliefs. If you are constantly reaffirming your uselessness or fear, the brain responds just like a muscle that is trained regularly, by building an ever-stronger neural connection to that thought, until it comes naturally.

    Imagine if someone invented a little tape recorder that we could attach to our brain to record everything we tell ourself – a digital recorder for our inner dialogue. What we would discover is that not even our worst enemies talk about us the way we talk about ourselves.

    For people with healthy self-esteem the messages of the inner voice are positive and reassuring. For people with low self-esteem, the inner voice becomes a harsh inner critic, constantly criticising, punishing, and belittling their accomplishments.

     You do not need to be perfect and completely together all the time. The moment you hear yourself start on this tirade tell yourself to STOP. Such a tirade against yourself is actually a self-serving ploy to avoid confronting a current difficulty or disaster. Strengthen yourself by reminding yourself that you do in fact value and accept yourself.   

Why beat yourself up?

People indulge in negative self talk because they get something out of it. Bell says if you can’t find good love you will take bad love, because that is better than no love at all. “People want to feel needed, wanted, included, even if that is as a punching bag, or as a person who makes other people feel better by appearing bad.”

    “Negative self talk is the denigration of self, the running down of self.  It’s often done in the attempt to have someone argue with them.  ‘Don’t say that! Of course you are good/clever/smart.’ Then the negative self talker will have to find some way to prove to the other person that they really are ‘bad’,” Bell says.

   Negative self-talk is often the result of a person not being allowed to try things as a kid. Their parent or carer may not want to see the child fail, or would prefer the task done quicker, so they push the child out of the way and do it themselves. The problem with that, is that is teaches the person ‘learned helplessness’.

Getting a more positive mind-set

Our conscious mind is similar to a computer keyboard and our subconscious mind is like the hard drive. One serves as the input and the other is the processor of the information. So it makes sense that if we continue to tell ourselves how awful we are, that our behaviour will reflect that command.

Ask yourself a couple of simple questions:

• Do I really want to do this to myself?
• Would I ever say such horrible things to a friend?
• Do I want to continue to feel upset, or do I want to feel better?

These questions will help your brain realise that abusing yourself is counterproductive. Though you may think negative self-talk could be a motivator, it’s doing the exact opposite. Rather than punishing yourself for your shortcomings, why not reward yourself for your positive attributes?
    That’s where affirmations can help. Repeating positives phrases to yourself will help instill confidence. It may sound ridiculous at first, but if you tell yourself something enough times, you’re eventually going to believe it. Try one of these, or come up with your own:

• I am beautiful inside and out
• I am intelligent
• I deserve respect from others as well as from myself
• I am my own best friend
• I am just plain awesome

It is interesting to note that the brain cannot distinguish between what is, and what we are thinking is. Athletes use this trick a lot. They think so hard that they will win the race, and put so much focus into standing on the podium, that their thoughts become reality. 

Stop the inner bitch

If you are used to the constant barrage of critical comments from within, learning to stop can be a challenge at first. It involves making a commitment to yourself to stop the negative thinking. You must constantly be on guard, even when you don’t feel like it. Once you have made that commitment to turn negative self-talk around, keep these three steps in mind:

1)    Focus on what you need help with. Instead of telling yourself you have no control when it comes to keeping weight off, seek people who can help you.

2)    Be factual, not judgmental.  Recognise the problem you wish to correct, without blaming yourself.

3)    The most important step is to speak to yourself just like you would your best friend. The next time you’re feeling low, fill yourself with nurturing, compassionate, encouraging and loving thoughts.

Women’s health writer and former model Bessie Bardot, says if you don’t compare yourself to others there is nothing to complain about. “If you don’t complain, there are no repetitive reinforcements about your own insecurities. Start looking for the good and presuming the best.”

    “When your inner dialogue is centered you radiate a more energised presence and create better working relationships, which can equal better career opportunities and even a better home life or relationship.”

    Bell says it’s important to listen to your thoughts and when you hear negative self-talk, counterbalance it with a positive reality. “ You can use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to force recognition that the negative self talk is an illusion or a way to gain much wanted attention.”

    The most important thing is not to dwell on negative thoughts and refuse to give them energy. We have a choice about what to do with the messages we hear. We may not be able to tune them out entirely, but we do not have to let them run the show.

    Think about this for a moment. We waste our precious seconds internally obsessing, criticizing or behaving in a destructive way, but in essence no-one but you feels the effect of it because it’s silent! So make a conscious effort to be kinder to yourself.

The mind is everything. What we think we become.

- Buddha

    Master Coach Matt Catling has worked with thousands of people to help lift their EQ. He says those who work on themselves from a personal development point of view, are more in touch with their emotions and can handle more challenges. “When someone is able to release negative emotions, they become less reactive in their relationships or their work environment and are able to set bigger goals.”

MATT EXPLAINS: “Recently I was working with one lady and despite being incredibly intelligent, her life really wasn’t working out. The decisions she was making didn’t reflect that level of intelligence. She was in an abusive relationship, her health was deteriorating and emotionally she was at the bottom of the barrel.

    After roughly two months of working with her, and helping her release the negative emotions and beliefs she was holding onto, she discovered a new vision or purpose in her life.  She jumped back into the driver’s seat of her life and started to actualize her full potential. Two months later she lost close to 13kg, let go of old relationships that weren’t serving her and got really on track with her finances. She has started a new and exciting business venture and has attracted a new relationship.

    By helping her become stronger emotionally, she was able to tap into the intelligence that had always been there. This resulted in her being able to make new decisions and take advantage of the opportunities in front of her.  The opportunities had always been there, she just couldn’t see them because of a low EQ.”

The key to emotional intelligence is understanding your emotions and acting in the most appropriate way. It is about standing up for what you believe in, in a tactful and respectful way. It is about not jumping to conclusions, but getting the whole picture before you react. Healthy emotional intelligence helps us set our personal boundaries, make decisions about our lives, and communicate with the people we love.

    Catling says the challenging thing with a person’s IQ, is that it can change depending on the situation. “Often you take an IQ test when you’re in a relaxed state so of course your IQ score will be a lot higher. But in life, especially these days, there is a lot of pressure from various sources.”

   “These pressures come from things like finances and career. Bills start to build up, you’re asked to work longer hours and suddenly your IQ starts to drop. As a result of these types of stresses, relationships tend to suffer, further effecting your emotional state.”

    Has the pressure ever been really high in your life, prompting you to do or say something you thought was really stupid?  Or have you made decisions that if you were able to step back and look at the situation without the emotional charge, you would have decided something totally different?

    As you increase the emotion of the situation, you decrease your intelligence. Therefore a person’s IQ score isn’t a true reflection of that person’s ability to achieve success. In Daniel Golemans’ book Emotional Intelligence, it’s suggested that the IQ test only really accounts for 20% of the equation and the EQ factor accounts for 80%.

    It makes sense then, why a lot of very successful entrepreneurs have average IQ scores yet very high EQ scores. In fact, if you research some of the most successful people on the planet, some haven’t finished high school, yet have a natural ability to deal with challenging situations and overcome them.

    The great thing about emotional intelligence is our ability to increase it. People are always evolving. You can increase your EQ at any point in your life by learning to identify your emotions and taking responsibility for those emotions, and with the technology we have today, it can be done rapidly. 

Lets take a closer look at what constitutes EQ

Impulse Control: We live in a society of the ‘quick fix’ or ‘I have to have it Now!’ Catling says impulse control is a person’s ability to move past the immediate pleasures or addictions and get back into the driver’s seat. “Instead of being driven by the emotion, the person can make a conscious decision to overcome the desire that may not be supporting them in the long-term.”

Reframing: A person with low EQ will generally give up when confronted by a challenging situation or event, whereas someone with a higher EQ will turn it into a positive opportunity and keep moving forward towards their goal.

Mood management: Some people are able to stay cool, calm and collected in chaotic situations. They can make balanced decisions taking both sides into account. A person with low EQ might fly off the handle and hold onto their position even though if they at fault – the ‘my way or the highway’ position.

People skills:  This is the ability to be sensitive to other’s needs and feelings, and notice what is really going on behind the emotions. Often people find it really easy to talk to a person with high EQ.  They open up and are willing to share what is really going on.

The three faces of EQ 

Acceptance of self: The ability to accept yourself fully, warts and all.  A person who really accepts themself, can walk into any situation and feel comfortable. They don’t compare themselves to others and are fun to be around and make others feel good about themselves.

Accept others: The ability to accept others without judgment. They see the true beauty of others outside of superficiality.

Allowing others to accept us:  This person is ok with receiving. When given a compliment they accept it because they believe they are worth it.

Check your EQ by answering these questions:

• How do you handle conflict? Do you instantly lay blame? Do you justify? Or do you take responsibility for the part that you played and see both sides of the story?
• Do you get angry or feel other negative emotions often?
• What happens when someone gives you a compliment? How do you feel inside? Do you feel comfortable or uncomfortable?
• How do you feel if someone pays for dinner or buys a present for you? Do you say no, or do you just accept the gift because you deserve it?
• When under pressure, do you make decisions quickly or do you take a long time?
• If something happens that upsets you, do you take a long time to get over it or do you get over it quickly and move onto the next challenge?

You may notice there are some things showing up around your emotions that could be preventing you from moving towards your goals. If you’d like to improve your EQ, Matt Catling runs free seminars designed to teach you the skills to handle more challenges and really get back in the drivers seat of your life. You can book into his program by logging onto ww.yourfuturenow.com.au

BOWEN TECHNIQUE relieves all kinds of physical pain and can be used on anyone, from newborn infants to the elderly. Thumbs and fingers are used to gently move muscles and tissues. In between each set the practitioner leaves the room to allow the patient space for deep relaxation and time for the adjustments to be absorbed.

The modern day CHIROPRACTOR uses a range of treatment modalities from soft tissue procedures to joint adjustments, stabilisation exercises and taping techniques to improve the overall function of the nervous system and the musculoskeletal system. Peter Garbutt, the chairman of Sport’s Chiropractic Australia, says while chiropractic work is often called upon to fix lower back pain and headaches, many patients use it to keep their health at an optimal level.

DREAM THERAPY is the process of learning how to decipher your own dreams to help you overcome fears and emotional dilemmas. It involves recalling your dreams then looking at the symbols and what they mean to you. Dream therapy is a means of confronting your subconscious and finding a way to live a healthier life.

ENERGETIC HEALING looks at the human energy system and identifies the emotional or psychological cause of any particular ailment, rather than focusing on the physical symptoms as a GP does. It is a gentle and painless process, which takes only a few minutes. Medical Intuitive Carmel Bell says it works by uncovering and removing the mental blocks or issues. “As each block is shifted and released, physical symptoms alter.”

FLOWER ESSENCES are the creation of mystical English Dr Edward Bach, who believed that psychological negativity was the root of all illness. The antidote was something that could hardly be purer and sweeter: the essence of flowers, extracted with distilled water. There are 38 essences, each correcting a different emotional imbalance. The most popular is a combination called Rescue Remedy.

GEMSTONE therapy or crystal healing has the power to ease illness and break bad habits. The theory is that gemstones carry vibrational rates. By placing these vibrational rates within a person’s aura, you are able to change the aura’s vibrational rates. The easiest way to do gemstone therapy is to wear high quality crystals as jewellery.

HYPNOTHERAPY involves exercises that bring about deep relaxation and an altered state of consciousness, also known as a trance. Hypnotherapist Matt Catling says we often experience a trance-like state, while we’re watching television. “Hypnotherapy it is good for installing new beliefs, and can be used to help promote weight loss, eliminate phobias and stamp out migraines.”

In IRIDOLOGY the practitioner looks at the characteristics of the iris (colour, patterns, etc) to discover any organs that are not functioning properly. Iridologists see the eyes as the windows to a body’s state of health, with the information used to demonstrate a person’s susceptibility towards certain illnesses, reflect past medical problems or uncover developing health problems.

Some psychologists prescribe JOURNALING as therapy. Taking the story out of oneself and putting it onto paper allows a person to reach the deepest recesses of their mind, changing painful confusion into poignant clarity.

KINESIOLOGY is the science of human movement. Muscle testing is used to identify imbalances in the body. Kinesiology bypasses conscious thinking to isolate casual factors in the subconscious body. It can help reduce stress and pain, improve mental performance and promote health and wellbeing.

BRIGHT LIGHT THERAPY involves sitting in front of a light box and is most commonly used to relieve seasonal affective disorder or depression. It works by suppressing melatonin production.

Medical practitioners around the world are now using MUSIC THERAPY in their pain management programs to help reduce stress. The Royal Melbourne is just one of the hospitals where musicians perform. “Live music takes patients out of that scary mind-set and improves the quality of their experience in hospital,” Events manager Debra Adamidis says. Music is also used in heart disease and stroke cases, and to promote weight loss.

NATROPATHY is a medicine system based on the healing power of nature. There are two main areas: one is supporting the body’s own healing abilities, and the other is empowering the client to make the lifestyle changes necessary for the best possible health. Most Naturopaths use a variety of therapies and techniques, such as nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy and acupuncture.

OSTEOPATHY is based on the theory that disease comes about from a loss of structural integrity, which can be restored to harmony by manipulation. The manipulation then allows for the body to heal itself. Osteopaths use manipulation for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease.

PRANIC HEALING is a simple yet powerful and effective system of no-touch energy healing that works by increasing the life force or prana. The practitioner, believing that disease first appears in the energy body before rooting itself in the physical body, works with the person’s aura.

QIGONG uses breathing techniques and slow graceful movements to stimulate the flow of qi along the body’s energy channels. It is practised to gain strength, improve health or reverse disease.

REIKI is an ancient Japanese technique used for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. Reiki practitioner Natasha Tay says she places her hands lightly on or just above the person, to get their life force energy flowing. “It is a deeply nurturing and relaxing experience that is an invaluable treasure in our modern world of busyness and stress, as it enables us to restore balance in the body.”

SHIATSU is often referred to as finger pressure massage. It too originates from Japan, with the therapist using finger and palm pressure to improve the flow of energy or qi. To explain it scientifically, shiatsu calms an overactive sympathetic nervous system, which improves circulation, relieves stiff muscles and alleviates stress.

TIME-LINE THERAPY is used to make fast and long-term changes in behaviour by uncovering the root cause of a problem. The practitioner then guides the client to their own learnings by building rapport between the conscious mind and the unconscious mind. It releases the effects of negatives experiences and is often used to overcome fear, grief, phobias and depression.

ULTRASOUND THERAPY uses high-energy sound waves to help ease painful joints and muscles.

VISULISATION is the process of focusing your concentration on an image of what you want and seeing it as already manifested. This positive thinking technique is often used by athletes to enhance their performance.

According to alternative medicine advocates, one form of WATER THERAPY involves consuming a gutful of water as soon as you wake in the morning. Normally a litre to a litre and a half is drunk to cleanse the bowel and improve a person’s overall health.

EXERCISE THERAPY is prescribed for a range of conditions including obesity, diabetes, depression and is used to prevent the onset of disease. Studies show it can also improve muscle strength and mobility in people with multiple sclerosis.

As you’re probably aware, YOGA involves contorting your body into strange shapes. The basic philosophy is that it unites the body, mind and spirit and aims to bring them into harmony. Over time yoga strengthens and tones the body and calms the central nervous system.

ZEN THERAPY encourages self understanding through long periods of meditation.

Within months my face was covered in unattractive red spots that threatened to leave ugly scars. I tried all sorts of lotions and potions, herbs, supplements, commercial acne treatments to no avail. I spent months eliminating different food groups from my diet, to see whether the culprit was something I was putting in my body. I even visited a dermatologist who was unable to put an end to my acne pain.

I was getting frustrated and running out of ideas when a friend recommended I see Medical Intuitive Carmel Bell. I’d never heard of a medical intuitive before, but I was desperate and ready to give anything a go. So I booked in.

The first thing Carmel asked me during my first appointment, was whether I was in a relationship. I remember thinking that was a strange way to start the session, but ultimately it is those people we are closest to that impact our lives the most, and therefore our health.

During the one hour consult, I learnt that emotions we hold, which are often triggered by how we are treated by someone else, impact on the body whether we like it or not, and failing to release negative emotions results in illness and disease.

Our parents also play a big role in shaping the state of our health. Bell says these people’s patterns are in every cell of our bodies. “You can never leave your family behind, no matter where you go.  Your task is to become comfortable with these energy patterns so that you can heal.”

Bell was energetically able to sense that I was holding onto a lot of anger directed at particular people in my life, which in turn was causing those nasty spots, and had also triggered binge eating and subsequent weight gain – I have never had a healthy relationship with food.

What is medical intuition?

Medical intuition is the art of looking at the human energy system and identifying the emotional or psychological cause of any particular ailment, rather than focusing on the physical symptoms as a GP does. Medical intuition is understanding that absolutely everything is based on how we feel.

Carmel Bell says medical intuition works by uncovering and removing the mental blocks or issues. “As each block is shifted and released, you will find that physical symptoms will alter. Some will become less apparent, some will become more apparent.”

Seeing a medical intuitive allows the client to not only find out what is not working in their body now, but what illnesses may develop in the future. This is done through looking at a person’s aura to see how alive and energetic that person is, while their Chakras reveal what is going on in the heart and mind.

Often our illnesses do not respond to western treatment because we have failed to find the root cause of the illness. Because medical intuitives specialise in the core issues rather than the symptoms, they are able to treat any ailment that presents itself.

Bell admits a lot her clients come to her with anxiety, hormonal imbalances and depression, but she also sees people with terminal illnesses. “Parkinson’s disease, Motor Neurone, Multiple Sclerosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Cancer are very common.  Thyroid imbalances are another that I would deal with weekly,” she says.

The link between mind and body

Mind and body are inextricably connected. What happens to one will impact the other. As they say, ‘a healthy mind keeps a healthy body’, so it makes sense then that in a time when stress is so prevalent, that disease and illness reign supreme.

Bell says how the person I am treating thinks and feels and how willing they are to ‘dump’ their issues is everything.  “If they have come to see me it is because the tests, the pills, the potions, the counselling has not worked.”

It can be far easier to ignore an emotional discomfort than a physical one. Illness and disease is the body’s way of drawing attention to the deeper issues that need to be dealt with. Showing up in the body, forces a person to resolve those internal struggles in order to be physically healthy.

Fellow intuitive Bela Johnson says our western mind-set is to medicate the pain. “We resist and fight against it and this separates us from the wisdom of the pain. One school of thought is that these conditions are ‘wake-up calls’. Illness is our body trying to communicate with us.”

Weight issues

There are a number of common thoughts that go through the mind of someone struggling to shed the kilos. Bell says some people use weight to suppress their emotions, be that anger or disappointment or fear. “Others are looking for comfort, and extra weight makes them feel ‘wrapped’ in something.”

She says some even use their weight as a barrier to physical intimacy. “This does not mean they are never intimate with another person – it just stops them from fully connecting with themselves and their partner. The most common reason though, is anger, either at themselves or someone else, or both.”

Who can benefit?

You don’t need to ‘believe’ in energetic healing for medical intuition to work. This is because the body is made up of energy. Once the negative energy patterns we are sending out have been identified, the practitioner is able to re-align these patterns to stop us attracting the same situations and ailments into our life.

It is a gentle and painless process, which takes only a few minutes, but can have a lasting and profound effect on the body, emotional state and mind of the client. This process allows for better energy flow throughout your entire being.

Self-healing

Carmen Bell has developing her own  ‘Grounding and Sealing’ technique she now teaches to clients that they can do in their own time to bring them back into the NOW. “You need to step away from the past and the future and into this moment in order to heal, as that is the only moment you can effect. All else is an illusion,” Bell says.

GROUNDING – to call back your energy

See or feel a red circle. Place this red circle over the base Chakra located between the anus and genitals. Allow a cord to grow a few feet in length from the red circle. See or feel a small patch of earth. Allow the cord to grow into that patch of earth.

SEALING – Energetic discernment

Visualise yourself scooping a bucket of gold energy from the air. Pour this gold energy over your head allowing it to cover your entire body.

Repeat this exercise throughout the day whenever you are low on energy and need to be brought back into the present.

However, Bell says the best thing a person can do for themselves to heal their body, is to take full responsibility for everything that has happened in their life. “That is the most powerful and freeing tool.”

Three months after my first appointment with Carmel and my face is clear, I no longer binge eat which has in turn helped me reach my target weight, I have more energy and vitality, and my relationship with my family is stronger than it’s ever been.

Natural vision is not new. The course, run by Rita Danko, is based on the findings of American surgeon Dr. William Bates, who believed that eye muscles, rather than the eye itself, are responsible for poor vision. Dr. Bates maintained that chronic stress causes the muscles holding the eyeball to contract, impairing our sight.

de-stress

The brain can become so overwhelmed by stress and tension that it will block visual pathways to protect itself, so it’s literally true that people become ‘blind with rage’. Danko says the brain puts up a barrier and the eyes become blurry. “The optic nerve travels through the entire brain, so because this is where emotions manifest, it’s no surprise that emotions will affect our eyesight.”

Behavioural Optometrist Vivian Rutter agrees, that to correct imperfect vision you must focus on the whole person, not just the eye. “Vision is not just light going into an eyeball. There’s a lot of processing in the brain. You can get people used to the blur and they can reinterpret it – they relax into it.”

throwing away the glasses

Unlike a camera lens, which cannot repair itself, the cornea has marvellous regenerative powers. Eyes, like all other organs in the body will heal themselves, given the chance to do so.  Danko says removing your glasses allows the eyes to adjust themselves. “Glasses do all the seeing for you, weakening the eyes in the process, because what you do not use you lose.”

Danko says glasses keep your eyes in a straight jacket. “Your eyes have to hold to the prescription prescribed in your lens and cannot fluctuate. In time the eyes get tired and a stronger lens is prescribed. It is a well known fact that people who wear glasses only ever get prescribed stronger and stronger lenses, never weaker ones,” she says.

Pinholes could be the answer to weaning you out of your glasses. Also known as stenopeic glasses, these eyeglasses have a series of tiny holes filling an opaque sheet of plastic in place of each lens. Your eyes strengthen as they are forced to move from hole to hole. While they may look like something out of a Blue’s Brothers movie, you will find in time, that you no longer need to use them.

feeding your eyes

Eyes are like any other organ of the body – they need to be properly nourished in order to work at their optimum. Danko says fresh fruit, vegies and protein are foods to fill up on for strong eye health, while working flaxseed oil into your diet is good internal therapy. There are also some key vitamins that help promote god eyesight:

A –for night vision

C – for ocular blood supply

E – for healing and general eye health

Zinc – interacts with vitamin A and resists disease

Sugar is the sweetest poison of all. Excess glucose in your blood stream damages the tiny capillaries in your eyes, making them swell and burst, impairing vision and often resulting in blindness. White flour foods also have the same effect on the body and not only lead to bad eyesight, but other health problems as well.

According to some behavioural optometrists in the United States, the three major causes of blindess are glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration – all completely avoidable by the right nutrition and good blood circulation.

give your eyes a workout

These basic exercises should be done at least once everyday. They stimulate blood flow to the eyes, bring nutrition and oxygen and carry out toxic waste. This helps prevent cataracts, muscular degeneration and glaucoma in later years. Your eyes will feel more alive; you will be able to focus faster and easier and won’t get as tired as easily.

1. Rhythmic change of focus – Hold up your finger or a pencil about ten centimetres from your nose and alternate vision between it and an object in the distance. Do this for five minutes – near, far, near, far, etc.
2. Eye Toner – Blink fast 25 times. Squeeze eyes shut tightly for ten seconds, relax and open eyes. Repeat 3 times. Yawn deliciously.
3. Eye Muscle Stretches – Hold up finger 10 cms from your nose and take it as far up as the eyes can follow, then slowly down as far as comfortable. Move eyes only and repeat 3 times. Do the same from left to right, then diagonally in both directions. Then draw a circle with your finger as large as is comfortable for your eyes to follow. Repeat 3 times each way.
4. Tap – Gently tap under your eye area then all around your eyes. Gently stroke your face with open palms outwards.

The best way to ensure you do your exercises is to tie them to something that is already a habit. That way once you restore vision you can continue doing them to prevent degeneration. For example is you like to read, make it a ritual to look into the distance every time you turn the page.

other eye boosters

We would not have eyesight if there was no sun. The sun stimulates the pituitary gland through the eyes and produces melatonin and vitamin D – both of which are needed for overall wellbeing. Eyes need light to see. Sun stimulates the retina of the eyes and the mind.

Sunglasses are another big no-no as they make the eyes lazy. Rutter says they restrict light to the eyes and keep them dilated. “Continuous dilation makes the eyes lazy and unable to adjust quickly to different light situations.”

Danko says even our posture plays a big part in regaining good eyesight. “Poor posture can put a crimp in the blood supply to the brain, resulting in fuzzy thinking, forgetfulness and blurry eyesight.”

the importance of positivity

Remaining positive and believing that your eyes are getting better each day will speed up the process. Danko says visualising is a powerful tool, because what you think you create. “Athletes have been known to improve their performance by training not only physically but mentally, and the same goes for training our eyes. “

It is not a case of throwing away your glasses. It is a matter of weaning yourself from dependency upon them as soon as is comfortably possible. Seeing is a matter of releasing tied up energy. Relaxing your whole body is part of sight. If we are giving our visual system a chance to rebalance itself, no glasses are ever needed.

Danko says the time it takes to regain full eyesight varies from person to person, and depends on how much work you put in. “I got my vision back in two months. For some, improvement is achieved very quickly just by relaxing the eyes and letting them go soft. Maybe the answer is in how quickly people grasp the idea of vision being one of the five senses and allowing it to be so.”