Archive

  • How to give cellulite the bum's rush

    Dear Martina, I am in my twenties and although healthy, have a sluggish circulation with advanced cellulite covering my thighs and bottom. I used to be overweight but now eat a balanced diet and exercise consistently every day. I am trying to get rid

  • Changing role of pharmacists

    It takes five years of training to become a fully-qualified pharmacist so there is clearly much more to the job than dishing out paracetomol and plasters. In fact, they can offer essential advice, information and support about a wide range of minor illnesses

  • Support in the battle to quit smoking

    When trying to give up smoking, there are several factors to take into account. It is not just about deciding one day not to have a cigarette, getting help and support as you battle the cravings can make all the difference. National Stop-Smoking Centres

  • Weight watching: Shed pounds without dieting

    As a sweeping generalisation, we seek pleasure and avoid pain. In other words, we tend to make life choices that will bring us satisfaction and we don't knowingly put ourselves in danger. Each of us defines pain and pleasure differently but that doesn't

  • An Ofsted childcare inspector calls

    Imagine a situation where there were no national standards.Where, for instance, no one agreed about the weight of a kilo. You could have Lewes insisting it was 1,000 grammes, while Manchester defined it as 1,200, or vice versa. Unthinkable. But there

  • Sneeze into an early summer

    As the days gradually get longer and the weather warmer, the traditional spring sounds are being drowned out by unseasonal sneezing and sniffing. The early arrival of hay fever each year is one of the unforeseen effects of global warming. This is because

  • Lewes Council

    It will be all change at Lewes District Council on May 1 with almost half the sitting councillors standing down. The Liberal Democrats have been firmly in control since 1991 but are being pushed hard by the Conservatives in an area where Labour have found

  • Tragedy that touched Britain

    The Payne family's trip to the seaside was made on the spur of the moment and ended in unthinkable tragedy. On Saturday July 1, 2000, a hot summer's day, Sara and Michael Payne rounded up their four children and dog Fifa and bundled them into the car.

  • Working out: Kick-start reluctant teens

    "My 15-year-old son is a bit reluctant to shape up. He needs to get more active and lose a bit of weight. "How can I persuade him to do this, even though he hates sport at school?" - Mrs D Turner, Arundel Some kids are superfit and active with endless

  • How Sarah's killer was caught

    Sarah Payne placed a tiny milk tooth under her pillow on the evening before she was kidnapped and murdered. It was meant for the tooth fairy. Instead, detectives came to take it. They used DNA extracted from the root to obtain a genetic profile of the

  • Try loving care for tender skin

    When a child is suffering from severe eczema, parents often have to treat them with steroid creams. One woman decided to look for something different. Bedtime used to be a painful and stressful experience for Natalie Balmond and her daughter Lula. The

  • Weight-watching: Take your time to go without seconds

    One of the key tools that helps people lose weight and keep it off for good is slow eating. You've probably heard it before but it's worth repeating because we forget to do it a lot of the time. The main purpose of slow eating is to help you to eat less

  • Fit ball can be a barrel of laughs

    The fit ball is a great aid to developing your overall training regime in many ways. It will give you a real challenge in the gym or at home and help you to develop you balance, awareness in space, muscle co-ordination and core postural strength. It will

  • The compound problems of fluoride

    Erupting volcanoes are an impressive but deadly force. Apart from blasting out tonnes of ash, rock and lava, volcanoes release clouds of poisonous gases into the atmosphere. One of the most dangerous is hydrogen fluoride. It promotes acid rain and attaches

  • Shopping can be a learning curve

    Your temperature's rising. You're starting to get edgy. Then, the fear that someone might approach with: Can't you keep that child under control? But what can you do when you have no option but to take an unwilling four-year-old to the supermarket? First

  • Coping with life after a stroke

    Recovering from the effects of a stroke can be a long and difficult process so practical support, medical help and advice is vital. It can take months to regain speech and some form of mobility, with each person affected in a different way. Brighton and

  • Foresight's better than hindsight

    Is it just me or has the world gone completely mad? We hear of parents having genetically modified, designer babies. One with a talent for strumming the balalaika perhaps, or one with multicoloured stripes who blends in beautifully with the furniture.

  • Give blood and save more lives

    Giving blood is a way of life for Mark Allwright. He has recently donated his 200th pint of blood and has encouraged his wife and children to become donors as well. Mr Allwright, from Worthing, is carrying on the traditions passed down to him from his

  • Marvellous medleys of crushed fruit

    Ever tried a Liquid Purple Dream or a Sweet Neon Doom? If not, you simply haven't lived. Frothy fruit and vegetable concoctions with elaborate names are becoming increasingly popular as we seek healthy alternatives to canned fizzy drinks and sugary fruit

  • Weight Watching with Judy Citron

    I'd like to recommend the following attitude to life: "Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly at first". That may surprise you but it is very relevant to dieting. It's at about this time of the year - a few weeks into a new year - that so many people

  • Is our daily bread making us ill?

    Our eating habits have always been inextricably linked to the state of our health. Take bread, which used to be regarded as the staff of life. About 9,000 years ago in the Middle East, Stone Age man began mixing wild grains with water into thick paste

  • Message of hate as killer caged

    Evil Roy Whiting was told to rot in hell after he was jailed for life for kidnapping and murdering Sarah Payne. As Whiting was led to the cells, Sarah's grandfather leaned towards him and shouted: "I hope you rot in hell." The 42-year-old painter and

  • How to cope with high pollen counts

    About 15 million people in Britain suffer from hay fever, an oversensitivity to pollen, spores and moulds. Symptoms range from violent sneezing, stuffy, itchy, runny noses and sometimes sore throat, ears, eyes and head. The culprit is histamine, a natural

  • Extracting the truth about mercury

    In 1989, Professor Murray Vimy from the University of Calgary in Canada studied the effects of mercury fillings on sheep. His research team used radioactively-labelled mercury for ease of tracking and found substantial quantities of the element in all

  • Act now for positive change

    As an actress, Britt Forsberg knows the importance of confidence, breathing properly and being able to project your voice. She is also aware of the need to stay relaxed but also be warmed up and fit enough to cope with an audience. As she developed her

  • The speaking and listening circle

    Shhh! You walk into the room and 15 small children, all sitting cross-legged in a circle, turn to look at you and then return to the matter at hand. Circle time, as it is known in playgroups and nurseries throughout the country, is an opportunity for

  • Weight watching with Judy Citron

    It's January. Here we go again. For how many years now has losing weight been on your list of New Year resolutions? Every year, I expect the process goes something like this: You successfully lose weight for a few days, even a few weeks and then, suddenly

  • Ban on supplements 'a health risk'

    An Open Letter to Health Minister Alan Milburn: You will be aware the European Union is currently planning to ban many dietary supplements. In two years' time, it may be illegal to sell products containing more than the recommended daily amounts (RDAs

  • Suggesting ways to lead a healthier life

    Anthony Asquith and Mark Tyrell are practising hypnotherapists who have organised a seminar to help people meet their New Year's resolutions. The idea is to provide the help and support the public needs to lose weight and get fit in the months ahead.

  • Identifying the role of diet in autism

    Hippocrates (460-370 BC), the father of medicine, maintained that all diseases begin in the gut. The gut is the gateway to your body, the place where food is broken down into molecules, absorbed into the bloodstream and distributed to cells after waste

  • Quality people need quality foods

    Despite all the resolutions, do you lose out in the power struggle with the wrong kind of food? Our bodies are made from molecules derived from what we eat so, of course, we need food. But why is it that when I reach for an apple, I choose chocolate instead

  • 'Evil' Whiting caged for Sarah killing

    Roy Whiting was today found guilty of the abduction and murder of eight-year-old Sarah Payne and sentenced to life. The 42-year-old killer, who had a previous child sex conviction, was told by trial judge Mr Justice Richard Curtis that he was "every parent's

  • Drunkeness cure has roots in China

    There is, I am told, a sure fire way of driving mice to drink. If mice are fed on junk food and subsequently given the choice between drinking water or alcohol, the majority will choose alcohol. If, on the other hand, mice are fed healthy, unprocessed

  • A resolution that's easy to swallow

    Symbolically, the New Year signifies a renewal life, hence our desire for regeneration and celebration. Modern-day festivities encourage unbridled drinking and eating and are geared less towards restoring health and sanity. By sampling some healthy New

  • Weight watching, with Judy Citron

    Maybe I'll never convince you but I'll have a jolly good try: It isn't a forgone conclusion you put on weight over the holiday season. Train yourself to eat slowly and more slowly again. Of course, that will only help if you eat less as a result. It's

  • Mystery of mistletoe still astounds

    A kiss under the mistletoe is a charming custom at Christmas time. According to Scandinavian legend, Balder, the god of peace, was slain by an arrow made of mistletoe but was eventually restored to life by the other gods. As a result, mistletoe became

  • Nothing magical about a good diet

    The magic of entertainment does a wonderful job of transporting us into the world of illusion. Magicians and spin doctors are frequently observed in the medical domain, too. We are told emphatically time and again diet has absolutely nothing to do with

  • Your donation could save a life

    Siobhan Ryan reports on efforts in Sussex to encourage more people to sign on to the national organ donor register. Earlier this year, Brighton and Hove City Council sent out special forms with its electoral roll forms to homes across the city. People

  • Starting the countdown to Christmas

    Now is the time to start your Christmas prepar-ations in earnest. Tell everyone their Christmas cards must have been lost in the post and don't even think about hunting for presents until the day before the event. It is pointless getting worried in advance

  • News from a friendly bug on patrol

    I have decided the survival of the fittest is not a very fair concept. Whoever dreamt that one up should try surviving in the human gut. I am one of around 400 species of tiny microorganisms living inside the human gastro-intestinal tract. In healthy

  • Weight watching, with Judy Citron

    Many people struggling to lose weight say: "I'm just not motivated, I can't do it." Today, I'd like to muse with you on this issue of motivation. What is it? How can you acquire some? The American motivation guru Anthony Robbins suggests we are all motivated

  • Take children to a world of good food

    Hassocks is definitely the place to be. A few weeks ago, went to an open morning at Hassocks Health Centre. It was organised by the local Patient Participation Group, charitable organisation which encourages health education, held in a GP's surgery. The

  • Give Mother Nature a hand

    Increasingly, complementary approaches are being incorporated into orthodox medicine. The success of using both at the same time was recently brought home when Kate and her husband came to see me with fertility problems. They had tried unsuccessfully

  • Time to learn your abc of nutrition

    Light relief this week with another quiz to catch you out. No prizes for guessing the most sensible answer. 1. Apart from cranberries, which berries help to prevent cystitis? a) Eric Clapton and The Travelling Wilburys. b) Blueberries. c) Beri-beri. 2

  • A design for a healthy teenager

    Designer labels do nothing for me, unfortunately. I have yet to discover how wearing a particular brand name can make me a better person. In fact, considering the prices of designer gear, I hope to pass this little foible on to my offspring before they

  • On the alert for aluminium intake

    Seeing is not necessarily believing in Camelford in Cornwall. Twenty tons of aluminium sulphate were accidentally tipped into the wrong tank in 1988, contaminating the water supply. When people complained of green hair, joint pain, sickness and memory

  • Balancing the mind and body

    Elaine Gibbons has been working as an acupuncturist for nearly ten years. During that time she has seen her clientele grow until now she is dealing with about 30 patients a week. The use of acupuncture has increased in popularity so much that some GPs

  • Stay safe by the fire

    More people these days are opting to attend specially organised fireworks displays carried out under strict safety regulations on Bonfire Night. However, there are still those who prefer to have friends and family round for celebrations in their own back

  • A treatment for every condition

    When a person suffers from conditions such as back pain, sciatica due to a slipped disc or hip and knee disorders, it can sometimes take a while for recovery. There is a wide variety of available treatments ranging from conventional physiotherapy to shiatsu

  • A pain in the back

    Whether it's a tweak as you turn your head to talk to a colleague or a more serious injury such as a slipped disc, most people have experienced some sort of back pain. Roughly two out of every five adults will experience such discomfort during the next

  • Eastbourne Borough Council: Lib Dem hold

    The Liberal Democrats retained control in Eastbourne but saw their majority cut to just one seat as the Tories capitalised on this year's huge council tax rise. Having lost a seat in Old Town to Tory challenger Ian Lucas, the balance of power is now on

  • Going with the flow of shiatsu

    The only constant in life is change and Sally Goodwin has experienced many over the past few years. When she left her job as communications manager at the Body Shop three years ago, following voluntary redundancy, it was clear some major changes were

  • New treatment eases migraine

    Migraine is a debilitating condition that can have a big impact on work, education and social lives. The most common symptoms experienced at the onset of an attack are partial sight loss, bright flashing lights or stars, difficulty speaking and numbness

  • Yoga can help children relax

    Children today can find themselves under a lot of pressure. Homework, competition with other children, exams, endless after-school activities and over-scheduling all add up. But a possible solution is growing in popularity across Sussex and helping children

  • Keep applying the sun cream

    Skin cancer is on the increase in the UK. Our health reporter Siobhan Ryan takes a look at state-of-the-art equipment being used to detect and treat new cases. There are more than 2,400 new cases of melanoma in men and more than 3,300 new cases in women

  • The challenge of the sweet potato

    My other half informs me there is nothing remotely interesting to be said about the sweet potato. We'll see about that, shall we? Let me take you on a culinary journey. Prepare yourself for a fanfare of a feast, a celebration of the delicacies of er,

  • Straight to the point of piercing

    The number of people having their navels, eyebrows and other body parts pierced has soared in recent years. Once reserved for the young and rebellious, the practice has been adopted by trendy teens everywhere and even professionals are sporting studs

  • Headache that can ruin your life

    Imagine suffering periodic spells of blindness, an intense throbbing in the head and overwhelming nausea on a regular basis. Shutting out the world to lie in darkness for up to three days might be the only solution. But for more than one in ten adults

  • A modern approach to special needs

    We all want our children to be perfect: beautiful, loving and intelligent. Only the lucky few achieve all three but what if your much loved baby has special needs? What can you do? At one time,the only answer was a special school but then what happens

  • Strip for the latest workouts

    Strip, gyrate and lose weight all at the same time. It sounds more like a scene from a movie than an aerobics workout. But cardio striptease is fast becoming the trendiest way to keep fit. Jennifer Aniston has taken up the hobby and has signed up for

  • A sure sign of development

    Most parents can generally guess by a baby's gurgle, laugh or tone of cry whether their nappy needs changing or whether they are thirsty. But Sasha Felix from Brighton has taken this a step further by organising a series of special classes which combine

  • Hidden perils of one glass too many

    It is easy when you are relaxing on holiday - or even just enjoying the summer sun at home - to get carried away and overdo the booze. But the dangers of binge drinking can be severe. Even government drinking guidelines - two to three units a day for

  • Early warning on osteoporosis

    About one in three women and one in 12 men over the age of 50 will develop osteoporosis. The condition can cause crippling problems but, for many people, the first time they find out something wrong is after they break bone. The National Osteoporosis

  • There are lies, damned lies and surveys

    For those working parents who have emerged, heads reeling from the latest survey into childcare; there must be as many nurseries and playgroups asking themselves: "What sort of places did the researchers visit?" It follows a survey conducted by the University

  • How to avoid the big sneeze

    Some 12 million people in the UK suffer from hay fever. In more extreme cases this can cause huge disruption, with many having to take time off work and avoid the countryside. As tree pollen concentrations start to rise in early March, sufferers start

  • Exercises to put your back into

    Dewi Richards knows first hand the pain and difficulty involved in recovering from a broken back. The keen sportsman was involved in a motorbike accident several years ago and was told by doctors he would never be able to exercise properly again. Mr Richards

  • Homocysteine: A new heartbreaker

    Move over cholesterol, you have had your moment of fame. Since the early 20th Century, cholesterol has taken the rap for causing heart disease and strokes. Nowadays, most people assume that as long as they keep their cholesterol levels down, there is

  • Have a say in your child's education

    Do you want the best for your child? Of course you do. Yet, it seems once you set foot outside the front door, your influence ceases. But there's a group of individuals and organisations, all with different experiences and knowledge, who want your contribution

  • Why we should stand by vitamin C

    Vitamin C came in for another media bashing last week amid claims that high doses of the vitamin could increase the risk of cancer. Poor old vitamin C - allegations are constantly being made by medical science and sensationalised by the Press. Yet we

  • Hollingbury and Stanmer

    Labour will be short of politicians with real experience after the elections because so many top councillors are retiring. The party will be thankful if it wins the new Hollingbury and Stanmer ward where three stalwarts are standing. Tehmtan Framroze,

  • November 17: Axe hurt but I'm okay now says Currie

    Albion playmaker Darren Currie revealed today he has got over the agony of being dropped against his first club West Ham. Currie's proud record of being the only outfield player to start every match this season came to an end at Upton Park last Saturday

  • After-school clubs to suit every child

    If you're a working parent, as I am, you probably get swamped by feelings of irrational guilt. Should you be with your child rather than earning a crust? Is your child missing out because you're not there at the school gates? Do they feel cornered into

  • Hanover and Elm Grove

    Greens are fighting hard to win the new seat of Hanover and Elm Grove but they have a big problem. How do they out-green Labour councillor Joyce Edmond-Smith, who chairs the Sustainability Commission, rides a bike and has solar panels on her Hanover house

  • Creative play can be key to learning

    Does your heart sink when you come across otherwise normal adults who claim never to read novels, preferring some thing factual? Can you contemplate a life in which we all respond like Mr Spock from the Starship Enterprise, who has no imagination and,

  • The way forward for Parkinson's

    When the boxer Muhammed Ali lit the Olympic flame in 1996, he proved to the world that you don't need to be perfect in order to be great. For some people, the sight of a champion ravaged by may have been disturbing but, for many, his courage and patience

  • Quality care for children of all ages

    Quality is a word that has been hijacked by the marketing industry - to the point where the only meaning we can safely attribute to it is one of vague approval on the part of the company selling us something. But quality, as it impinges on our children

  • And all because we love chocolate

    I have finally found the man of my dreams and the fact that he owns a chocolate factory has everything to do with it. Chocolate factories, unlike cocoa beans, don't grow on trees and let's face it a girl needs to be practical about her obsessions. Chocolate

  • Physical activities for mind and body

    Remember the cinema stereotype of the child genius clumsy, lacking in confidence and isolated? Yes, it's ridiculous, but there's more than a grain of truth in it. Ask most parents what they really want for their children and they'll say to be happy, healthy

  • Nutritional aid for ugly ducklings

    If Hans Christian Andersen had not been dyslexic, he may never have created the tale of The Ugly Duckling. It is a classic story of the outsider 's struggle for acceptance, of an individual who doesn't quite fit in try as he might. Similar setbacks are

  • Central Hove

    Jenny Barnard-Langston is one of the best known public figures in Brighton and Hove. She cut a dash as mayor and only two years ago she was Tory candidate standing against Ivor Caplin in the general election for Hove. Then she made a well publicised switch

  • Thinking small can make a big difference

    I have fallen in love with the concept of downsizing! Trade your Merc in for a Mini and think of the savings in terms of petrol and pollution. Trade your mobile phone for a notepad and enjoy the mystery and suspense of waiting for snail mail. Swap your

  • The world is now our children's oyster

    Geography for four-year-olds? If that's what's meant by the Early Learning Goal relating to understanding of the world, then what are we coming to? But, of course, what's now going on in our nurseries and playgroups is almost literally worlds away (excuse

  • Change your food for a better mood

    As silly adverts go, the one I heard on the radio the other day takes the oatcake. It ridicules people who eat healthy snacks and tells them to swallow a multi-vitamin instead. Pill popping, after all, has been the preferred medical treatment since pills

  • Stop moaning and try a tasty alternative

    Is it just me or have I been exposed to a lot of whingeing recently? People moaning about their state of health whilst exposing their bodies to hazardous material such as pesticides, excess sugar and hydrogenated fats. Worrying about their children's

  • Chick out the healthy living pea

    On my recent excursion to Israel, I frequently came across a relation of the green pea called the chickpea (or garbanzo). Chickpeas originated in the Middle East around 7,000 years ago and were one of the first legumes to be cultivated by man. Properly

  • Learning to live with your fears

    Elaine finds it an ordeal to leave her house each day. Every morning she has to stop and count to ten before opening the front door of her home in Crawley to go to work. Elaine, not her real name, suffered from agoraphobia, the fear of open spaces, for

  • Knowing how to spot meningitis

    Following the death of her boyfriend from meningitis, Sarah Jones has been campaigning to raise awareness of the dangers of the disease. Miss Jones, from Burgess Hill, did not have time to see Noel Davies before his death because the infection developed

  • Dyslexics helped by space science

    Rupa Anandakumar is one of many people to have a form of dyslexia but she has not let it get in the way of what she wants to do. She is now a therapist working with autistic children. Nicky Woodward is also dyslexic. Having dealt with the condition from

  • Caring parents given no choice.

    Isobella Thomas's family is one of 2,000 families who say their lives have been ruined by the MMR vaccine. Her sons Michael, nine, and Terry, seven, developed signs of autism and suffered bowel problems after being inoculated as toddlers. Mrs Thomas,

  • Therapy in the computer age

    As the the internet and email continues to be a daily part of people's lives, another idea has been developed which may help the health of many. The phrases email and ecommerce are well known but, now, Steven Lee, from Hove, has come up with the idea

  • Look the New Year in the eye

    The best way to avoid a hangover is to avoid alcohol altogether but that's no good on New Year's Eve. In an ideal world, everyone has incredible will power and everyone knows when to stop. But this is not an ideal world so the other option is to listen

  • Help save a life this Christmas

    As people are busy racing around getting ready for Christmas, the last thing to come to mind is the thought of giving blood. But the demand is always there. The National Blood Service (NBS) says the more people who come forward, the more lives can be

  • Doctor who prefers a holistic approach

    For John McKenna, becoming a doctor was never going to just be about prescribing basic pharmaceutical medicines. After first training as a scientist, he worked in Africa for four years. Following his subsequent medical degree, he was eager to learn about

  • Stop the parade of the pink elephants

    Russians open another bottle of vodka and start again, the Chinese eat oats and peaches and the Scots swear by Irn-Bru. But by far the majority of people across the globe rely on a cup of coffee and the "plink-plink fizz" of products such as Alka Seltzer

  • Getting to the heart of things

    1.4 million people in England suffer from angina, 300,000 have heart attacks and more than 110,000 die as a result of heart problems every year. Several organisations in Sussex exist to help people reduce the risk of developing heart disease and another

  • Natural creams to heal the skin

    Hundreds of people in Sussex suffer from the misery of sensitive skin, eczema and psoriasis which, in some cases, can be difficult to control. Martin James, from Eastbourne, suffered chronic asthma and very sensitive skin when he was a child. He eventually

  • What goes in comes out - eventually

    Lately, I seem to have been rather bogged down with rear-ends. Judging by readership response, it may be a good idea to go into more detail about how to make the digestive machinery function like clockwork or, at least, as regularly. In the world of nutrition

  • 'Natural' way to control weight

    For many people, trying to lose weight and keep it off is the main focus of their lives. Apart from affecting such people's health, weight problems can also have an impact on their self-esteem and social life as they become lethargic and depressed. In

  • Get to the point of acupuncture

    Acupuncture is one of the oldest forms of treatment for pain. In the past 20 years, acupuncture has grown in stature from a rarely-used method viewed with deep suspicion to an accepted alternative treatment used by thousands of people in the UK every

  • Wake up to the new breakfast clubs

    One of the dilemmas for parents is balancing work and family commitments. A particular test of this is the school run. While most parents can accommodate this historic mismatch of timing most of the time, even the best-laid plans can break down. Hence

  • It's time to get back in shape

    Statistics show four in five people experience back pain during their lifetime and the problem is on the increase. The pain ranges from a nagging ache in the lower back to a crippling, stabbing pain that leaves the sufferer unable to do anything but lie

  • When nature is no longer natural

    Dear Martina, I was most interested in the recent letter to you from Doug Streeter with information about essential nutrients required for a healthy lifestyle. I am particularly keen to find natural ways of gaining minerals and vitamins, without resorting

  • Food for good looking eyes

    At the age of 39, Sharon Charlton found herself able to see clearly for the first time in her life. Born with eyesight problems, Mrs Charlton, from Selsey, had to wait until the cataracts on both her eyes had fully developed before she was able to have

  • Put your feet first for health

    During National Foot Care Week, Siobhan Ryan looks at what steps need to be taken to give feet a clean bill of health In an average lifetime, most people's feet carry them the equivalent of five times around the earth. That's not bad going considering

  • Learning maths can be a fun game

    Mention maths to most adults, and the chances are they'll smile and say, "Not one of my strengths." And the really alarming thing about that sort of defeatism, particularly if it's a parent speaking, is that it fosters the idea that maths is boring and

  • Get smart about fats for kids

    Not for one moment do I imagine that life is easy for our kids. Just consider the stress of being driven to school when you'd far rather walk, or having to put up with politically correct parenting and endless bewildering choices. Do I take up hula hoop

  • Eat your way to a better shape

    It sounds obvious and straightforward but, for many in Sussex, eating healthily to keep well is not being done. There are several reasons for this, including lack of time and financial constraints. But there is plenty now being done to help people change

  • Playschemes offer safety and fun

    "I don't know what to do. I'm bored." The inevitable consequence of a school holiday, perhaps, but for a parent this refrain is almost the kiss of death. For working parents, who have to prise unwilling children out of bed when they are in holiday mood

  • Discover virtues of soya - the golden bean

    An increasing number of people are favouring vegetable protein in their diets rather than relying solely on animal protein (meat, fish, eggs). You can find vegetable protein in whole grains, beans, pulses, seeds and nuts. Vegetarians should eat a mixture

  • Warning on fizzy drinks

    A recent clinical study looked at the damaging effect of fizzy drinks on the bones of teenage girls. Dr Claire McGartland and her team observed that among secondary school children "a high consumption of fizzy drinks by girls during adolescence may lead

  • Adjusting to the weather

    The environment and atmosphere certainly has an effect on how we feel and how our bodies function. Earlier this week, we were still basking in the summer sun. But with the sudden change to clouds and rain, our inner temperature control may have got confused

  • A relaxing way to treat stress

    The pressures of a modern-day lifestyle have led to an increasing number of cases of anxiety and stress-related illness and addictions. A growing number of people are now turning to hypnotherapy for help. Siobhan Ryan reports. Michael, 31, had almost

  • Soothe those aching legs

    Many men, women and children suffer from aching leg syndrome, which can disturb sleep and make you feel tired and weak. I have seen a number of runners, sportsmen and people whose occupation involves standing for long periods of time suffer from the condition

  • First steps to nursery can be fun

    Do you remember the first day you started school? I remember it well: The pain of feeling totally alone and the humiliation that comes from being observed crying. Well, times have changed now in that most children have learnt to broaden their horizon

  • Healing with autogenics

    One of the ways in which we can take control of our health in mind, body and spirit is to learn self-help techniques which we can practise easily and which are proven to work. There is a number of powerful techniques such as yogic breathing, meditation

  • How to still your mind

    In this day and age, with the many pressures and demands of society, a happy balance of our mind, emotions and senses is difficult to maintain. Many young people, in particular, seem to be under enormous pressure and there are high expectations of them

  • Cure your pain with magnets

    A growing number of people with near constant aches and pains are turning to a new type of alternative therapy to help them. Magnotherapy involves using a simple magnetic device which is believed to improve the bloodflow and relieve symptoms. Siobhan

  • Communication is key to education

    One of the skills that distinguishes us from all other animals is our ability to communicate. There's no doubt that catching small children when they are already fired up to learn new ways of communicating improves dramatically their chances of reaching

  • The power of herbs

    Continuing the theme from last week, let us look at some more rejuvenating herbs everyone can use regularly. Lord Charaka says herbs from the country in which you are born will be in greater in harmony with your body and may work better for you although

  • Using herbs for health

    In the Vedic Hindu civilisation, which flourished on the banks of the Indus valley 5,000 years ago, the scholars and the people detoxed and rejuvenated the whole being. They took care of mind, body and spirit - in order to live more than 100 years and

  • Detoxing needs care

    Living under the constant mental, physical and emotional pressures of life today coupled with pollution is causing disease in more people at an earlier age. An increasing number of men in their early 40s are suffering from stress-related heart disease

  • Behavioural problems

    This week we are continuing with the theme of personality types and patterns of behaviour. When dealing with a stressful or demanding situation, we become more vulnerable to other minor or major irritations. Problems tend not to come one at a time: When

  • Spring fever is in the air

    Spring is in the air, the sun is shining and the pollen from grass and flowers of trees are being wafted on the breeze. But while the warmer weather and sunshine cheers everyone up, it also brings tears to the eyes of those who suffer from hay fever.

  • Revival of the spirit

    Conflict causes insecurity, damping down the spirit which allows us to feel joyous. The ancient vedas or spiritual sciences, as well as modern spiritual masters around the world, proclaim the only way to resolve conflict is to become aware of our inner

  • D.I.N.N.E.R. party politics

    . . . Or a Party Political Broadcast on behalf of the D.I.N.N.E.R. Party. Isn't it high time the nutritionally undermined had their very own political party? We could call it the Dishy Ingredients, No Nagging, Eat to Repair (D.I.N.N.E.R.) Party. In my

  • Obesity and the mind

    Since 1980, the number of obese adults and children has doubled in UK. I believe obesity is a result of an imbalanced body, mind and spirit. A number of factors are influential - dietary habits, exercise, mental state, emotional turmoil and spiritual

  • The threat of a heart attack

    The focus of the medical and pharmaceutical industry is currently levelled at high cholesterol levels in the blood as one of the main causes of coronary heart disease. It is recognised that one cannot predict the risk of coronary heart disease or heart

  • The way to a healthy heart

    Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the largest killer in UK, according to the latest statistics published by the British Heart Foundation. It accounts for around 125,000 deaths a year; approximately one-in-four deaths in men and one-in-six deaths in women

  • Happiness is key to health

    A Happy Soul Is A Healthy Body. This was the theme for my workshops and lectures at the Good Health Show at Birmingham NEC last weekend. I was surprised and pleased to receive a high attendance of around 30 people for each session, all keen to learn yogic

  • Best advice on Ayurveda

    With Ayurveda and Ayurvedic medicine grabbing the attention of doctors and herbalists in the UK, Ayurvedic herbs are starting to appear in the shops. But I feel I should sound a note of caution. Single Ayurvedic herbs available in UK are only the tip

  • Remedies to beat the cold

    The sudden change in the weather - with snow, ice and cold winds - looks lovely from indoors when the sun shines on the snow. But it is bad news for people suffering from asthma, chest problems, sinusitis, arthritis and heart disease. Small children get

  • Tasty foods for detoxing

    Since the detox season is in full swing and so much is being said about the subject, I thought it would be the right time to put things into perspective. Today, a 24-year-old lady came to see me feeling tired all the time, low in energy and suffering

  • Learning by doing is the best education

    Picture Linford Christie in his glory days at the start of a race, totally focused on winning. Poised at the starting point, he was in another world, one in which there was no alternative but to succeed. Any parent will tell you that sort of self-belief

  • Having faith in the future

    Christmas is a time for festivities but also a time to rest and reflect. So what were your reflections for the past year and what are your resolutions for a healthy 2003 in mind, body and spirit? Listening to the prevalent messages of war and peace over

  • Healing spirit of Christmas

    Christmas is a time to rejoice and let the festive mood heal you. Often, when we are tense and stressed,we forget to rejoice and celebrate our achievements. Most importantly, we forget the immense power of the human body, mind and spirit. Look at the

  • Easing the menopause

    Concerns over an increased risk of cancer when taking hormone replacement therapy have worried many women. Technically speaking, if you are only replacing what your body is not producing, there should not be any increased risk. However, if we believe

  • Supplements for the brain

    Our desired assets in old age are lucid brain function, memory, alertness of mind, healthy use of muscles and joints and a healthy heart and lungs. Is it not worth looking after them from a young age? Dementia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease are

  • When my adorable baby died inside me

    For nearly nine months, Catherine Harwood's pulse beat to the rhythm of her baby daughter's tiny heart. She felt every move her daughter made and did everything she could to nurture her little body inside. Catherine fell in love with the baby girl's perfectly-formed

  • Living to a fine old age

    Governments around the world are worried about the problems of looking after our ageing population. Old age has its own unique needs for care. Will we be able to maintain a quality of life and independent living for older people? In September, government

  • Learning should be child's play

    For far too many years childcare has been right at the bottom of the pile. This goes back as far as the 17th Century, when wealthy women farmed their children out to wet nurses rather than ruin their social lives and their bodies. Times have changed,

  • Preventing early ageing

    What is the link between your actual age and the inner ageing process? For example, why do some of us look young and others old for their years? Why do some people get early wrinkling of the skin, memory loss or high blood pressure, which are all part

  • The brighter side of life

    Antidepressants are gaining bad press at the moment because of the undesirable side effects they cause. One of my patients brought me a list of side effects she had suffered, including sweats, bad dreams, a fuzzy head and a difficulty with making decisions

  • Warm up those muscles first

    As Wimbledon draws to a close this weekend, tennis courts mostly abandoned for much of the year fill up. Those inspired by the game want to get in to shape for the summer. But any type of exercise, especially if you are not used to it, can lead to injuries

  • Bin the Prozac, it's chocolate time

    Let me tell you, the quickest route to a girl's heart is through her stomach! Forget looks, fame and fortune, a man has to be able to cook. Or willing to go out at strange hours to buy chocolate, the ultimate in sugar replacement therapy. Easter is my

  • How to keep colds at bay

    An influenza epidemic is predicted for the UK this winter. This could overload GP surgeries with urgent appointments for treatment. If so, the challenge of dealing with a serious outbreak of flu could overwhelm the already overstretched primary care system

  • The burdens of anxiety

    The upward trend in stress-related conditions such as depression, anxiety, worry and nervous breakdown among our young and middle-aged population is very worrying. A recent report in the media stated that there was a rise in suicide rates among young

  • Eating your way to health

    We are what we eat. In recent years, I have seen a growing trend in patient awareness regarding diet. In the past, people used to believe diet did not matter. Now, an increasing number of patients ask me what they should eat for certain conditions. For

  • Holy herb in the garden

    Tulsi, or holy basil (ocimum sanctum), is considered to be a spiritual herb bestowed with great healing powers. It holds a position of sanctitity and importance in the Hindu religion and tradition. In every home in India, Hindus grow tulsi in the front

  • Spices for a healthy diet

    Spices have been used in traditional Indian cooking from ancient times, both to stimulate the senses and for their medicinal value. Ayurveda says a bland diet will not stimulate the mind while eating tasty food can disperse your depression and motivate

  • Keep young and beautiful

    Our body is constantly producing free radicals, supercharged chemicals formed when oxygen and nitric oxide react with our tissue to form unwanted charged molecules. These free radicals cause a chain reaction with our cells and DNA and damage our tissues

  • It's time to think again

    Who doesn't want to live a long, happy and healthy life? There is so much to enjoy and experience on this physical plane of life on earth. Caraka, the ancient Ayurvedic physician wrote that the span of life is variable in different ages of time (called

  • Woodingdean

    Woodingdean has been Tory for most of the time since it was split from the unwieldy old Warren ward, which used to contain much of Whitehawk as well. But Labour has been represented too over the years, notably by former councillor Joan Moorhouse. The

  • Helping with hyperacidity

    Commonly known as heartburn, increased acid in the stomach is a very common ailment which can cause considerable morbidity. It can even cause long-term damage to the stomach and lower end of the gullet. The treatment of stomach ulcers, acidity and hiatus

  • Problems of clean living

    Recent research claims frequent bathing can lead to increased incidences of asthma in babies and young children. From my own experience, I believe we are also seeing more skin problems such as eczema in babies and children. The need to survive requires

  • Making the most of life

    Where is the benefit to our quality of life? This statement, written by Richard White, editor of Southern Business Times, struck me as I opened the page. Nowadays, human values are measured in the value of the stock market and family values on the size

  • The way to a healthy mind

    The philosophy of ayurveda states that, at any given time, human behaviour reflects and depends on the state of our mind. Ayurveda categorises the state of our minds into three energy types or gunas. Satva guna is the state of purity and clarity of thought

  • Back Technique

    Siobhan Ryan speaks to a woman who is using an old technique to help solve a modern problem. The number of people who spend a lot of their leisure time sitting in front of a computer playing games or surfing the Internet has rapidly increased in the last

  • Withdean

    The Tories should face no trouble in gaining control of the new suburban ward of Withdean. They are fielding their experienced team of three councillors, who currently represent the smaller Westdene ward. Pat Drake is one of the safest pairs of political

  • De-stress in five minutes

    Why does there seem to be a growing interest among people from all walks of life in spiritual healing and Ayurvedic herbs? The answer is simple. We have allowed our fantasies of modern life to drag us into a highly-demanding workaholic and aspirational

  • Just take a deep breath

    Aromatherapy is one of the most pleasant therapies which can help in a number of ways in one's daily life. In its pure definition, aromatherapy relates to the use of various types of aroma to influence certain areas of the brain in order to produce various

  • How to cope with colitis

    Colitis is a serious bowel problem which can cause diarrhoea, stomach pains or cramps, bleeding and the passage of slime from the rectum. People often lose a lot of weight due to vitamin, protein and other nutritional deficiencies. An acute flare-up with

  • Solving gut problems

    Doctor, do you think I have candida? asked 26-year-old Mary when she came to see me. She had been suffering bloating, bowel upsets, food intolerances and a general feeling of tiredness for two years. She also suffered from recurrent vaginal thrush. The

  • Rejuvenation of immunity

    The bounty of nature never ceases to fascinate me. Again and again I return to nature's herbs for answers to illness. While many modern medicines are essential for serious illnesses, there is often no treatment for things like flu, colds, tiredness, ME

  • Prevention is the key

    The BBC's Your NHS day on Wednesday sparked a great debate about poor funding and the enormous demands placed on hospital services, GPs, nurses and all primary-care teams. We need more doctors and nurses, more hospital beds and adequate care for the elderly

  • Cope with PMS and save your crockery

    What can men do about PMS? "Frailty, thy name is woman!" said Shakespeare but I'm sure he had no idea what it is like to suffer from Premenstrual Syndrome. My spouse used to joke that he had a full six-minute window of opportunity to talk to me between

  • Call in the fat-busters

    My programme for losing and maintaining weight is based on Ayurvedic Panchakarma detoxification of the body. This includes Ayurvedic deep-tissue massage and herbal steam treatment followed by a herbal enema. It also features Ayurvedic herbal formulations

  • Make detox a way of life

    Our bodies and minds are heavily laden with toxins due to bad diets and eating habits, negative feelings and aggressive actions. Non-organic methods of farming have ruined the nutritional quality of much of our food. Our mental toxins come from ego, greed

  • The benefits of milk

    Recent scientific research has shown that milk is a healthy drink which could prevent certain illnesses, including cancer. Milk contains many valuable nutrients including essential proteins and amino acids, carbohydrates, fats, essential fatty acids and

  • Healthy food from India

    Several people have inquired about ayurvedic foods following the recent Radio 4 programme on ayurveda. Indian curries have now become a part of British culture and ayurvedic foods are just around the corner in the natural health market. Few people realise

  • Homoeopathic tendencies

    The healing art of homoeopathy is not normally associated with sophisticated equipment or computer wizardry. But practitioners like Sussex-based Miranda Kingsley-Holt are now using cutting-edge technology to treat their patients in a natural way. Thanks

  • Healing spirit of Christmas

    Christmas is an auspicious time for reflection and healing, for praying for oneself and for others. The festivities, the partying, the alcohol, the gifts and the frenzy of Christmas shopping bring cheer and a positive feeling to the heart after a long

  • Approaches to cancer

    New Approaches to Cancer is a charity that was set up some 30 years ago to offer support to cancer patients, carers and healthcare workers. Since then, several charities have been established in the UK to work together on this task. One of the important

  • Isolated in a scary world of their own

    Locked into a place of meaningless noises, incomprehensible shapes and colours; exaggerated perceptions of touch, taste and smell, the world becomes a scary place to be. Children and adults suffering from autism can make little sense of normal codes of

  • The cancers in society

    Travelling in India is always a fascinating, eye-opening experience. The noisy activities of an affluent, modern society which lives in harmony with traditional India in a symbiosis that baffles logic, is overwhelming. The magnificent bungalows, cars

  • Coping with cancer dread

    The National Conference on Cancer 2001 will take place on November 30 at RegentsCollege in London. This unique conference is held every year to bring together leading experts in cancer care, cancer care professionals, patients and carers to share the

  • Wish ward

    Whatever happens in the marginal Wish ward, two councillors standing for election must lose their seats. The Hove seafront ward is currently represented by two Labour councillors and one Tory, who are all standing again. But the ward is being reduced

  • When work is a burden

    Someone once wrote: "No one ever died of hard work, but people have died of laziness", or something to that effect. In fact, the latter is true and we know that being a couch potato can, in due course, cause obesity, heart disease and diabetes. However

  • The healing power of art

    Last Saturday, I heard about the work being done by the Arts For Health centre which is based at Manchester Metropolitan University. Peter Senior, the pioneer of an international movement bringing the services of artists and designers to the world of

  • Stay calm to have a heart

    High cholesterol and heart disease are closely linked. When this combines with obesity and diabetes, the risk of getting strokes or heart attacks is greatly increased. Recent guidelines for doctors suggest anyone with high cholesterol and related heart

  • Looking after your prostate

    Men are poor at looking after themselves. They often postpone seeking medical help until things are quite bad. Problems with enlarged prostate and poor urinary flow are quite common. Frequency, urgency and incontinence of urine can make life very miserable

  • Herbs to remember

    There is so much to do and remember these days, it is little wonder premature memory loss is not uncommon. Many of us find prolonged stress and too much work causing lack of concentration, memory loss and even personality changes. Dramatic alterations

  • Food for the body and soul

    When we think of food for health we conjure up visions of delicious dishes in our minds. We think of wholesome food as protein, calories, fats and vitamins to nourish our bodies. The other day, I was invited to join a group of Hindu elders to share ideas

  • Westbourne

    Westbourne is the only urban seafront ward which has not been represented by Labour councillors. It is not that different from neighbouring wards in its composition so one reason for Tory success must be the rapport between residents and their councillors

  • Miracle Magnet

    The arrival of summer conjures up images of long evenings and sunshine. But for thousands of allergy sufferers, it can be an annual nightmare. Siobhan Ryan looks at what can be done to relieve the problem. Wasps and bees, nettle rash, prickly heat and

  • Stanford

    Stanfor should be one of the safest seats in the city for the Tories but there is a cloud in the blue sky. It comes in the shape of former Conservative councillor Jayne Bennett, who is standing as an Independent. Stanford is being reduced from three seats

  • St Peter's and North Laine

    Brighton and Hove is one of the few major councils which has strong representation from four parties. The Greens are determined to keep it that way, which is why so much effort is being put into the St Peter's and North Laine ward. Seven years ago in

  • Choosing a true therapy

    The City of Brighton and Hove probably has the largest number of complementary therapists in the country. That poses a number of problems Which therapist should you see for treatment of your condition? Who will advise you as to which therapy is suitable

  • Regency

    Labour will be looking to retain its hold on this ward, which is right at the centre of the city. Regency has been reduced from three seats to two in a reorganisation of Brighton and Hove's wards. Roy Pennington, who chairs the planning committee, will

  • A Tooth for an eye

    Five years ago a pioneering eye operation which used a patient's tooth to help restore their sight took place at the Sussex Eye Hospital. Since then, the Brighton medical team responsible has carried out the same technique on 15 more patients in the UK

  • Queens Park

    City council leader Ken Bodfish, who lives opposite Queen's Park itself, will be among those aiming to stay on the authority after the election. Normally he would be accompanied by near neighbour Jackie Lythell but she is retiring after many years' service

  • How to enjoy safe sunshine

    Basking in the glorious sun on the beach in Florida with clear skies and temperatures soaring to 91 degrees is what we all desire as a fantastic holiday experience. Hundreds of holiday-makers from Britain will soon be heading off for sunny destinations

  • Lewes District Council - Lib Dem hold

    It was a night of ups and downs for the two main parties in the Lewes district but the overall political landscape remained unchanged. With ward boundary changes slashing the number of seats available and almost half the sitting candidates stepping down

  • Attacking the fat, freeing the mind

    Obesity is costing the NHS at least £2.6 billion a year. Being overweight leads to increased health problems and social isolation. Siobhan Ryan looks at how a change in lifestyle and attitude can help someone lose weight and keep the pounds off. One-in-five

  • Why bears don't get coronaries

    Dr Mathias Rath reveals his pioneering work on the vital function of nutrients and antioxidants. Dr Mathias Rath, in his book Why Animals Do Not Get Heart Attacks..People Do. Reveals his pioneering work on the vital function of nutrients and antioxidants

  • Physician heal thyself

    While we are all concerned about the health of the nation, the very frontline soldiers who uphold the National Health Service are often forgotten in modern times. Doctors themselves forget that they are carers, therapists, counsellors. I believe that,

  • SINGLE BASKET

    'What I hate most about being single again after 3 years is shopping. Instead of the dulex shopping trolley model, I am back to carrying the sad, single basket. Panic sets in. Everyone will know that I am single. I hide and scurry through the aisles keeping

  • Brittle matters

    People assume that the brittle bone disease osteoporosis only affects elderly people. But signs can show as early as in one's 20s. Siobhan Ryan looks at how tests for the condition are carried out and how people can stop it from developing further. Osteoporosis

  • In search of divine light

    With Easter having arrived and spring in the air, a sense of good feeling seems to have crept in, alleviating stress, worry and regrets. This is the time to re-visit the spirituality within us. What does Easter mean to you? How can it relate to your good

  • SINGLE BASKET

    'What I hate most about being single again after 3 years is shopping. Instead of the dulex shopping trolley model, I am back to carrying the sad, single basket. Panic sets in. Everyone will know that I am single. I hide and scurry through the aisles keeping

  • Crawley Borough Council: Lab hold

    A vicar who quit Labour over the war with Iraq cost the party a seat by standing against them in Crawley's local elections. It was no surprise that Labour kept its strong grip on the town last night. But there were also red faces in the Labour camp when

  • Forgiveness helps you to stay healthy

    Everyone who attended the Inter Faith Contact Group Meeting on April 18 at the Unitarian Church, Brighton was deeply moved by the talk given by Michael Henderson. He is a remarkable author and media presenter who has devoted his life to bringing to the

  • Chichester District Council: Con hold

    The leader of Chichester District Council lost her seat during a dramatic election night. The district's Liberal Democrats dented the Conservative Party's previous nine-seat majority with a series of gains at yesterday's count in Westgate Leisure Centre

  • Horsham District Council: No overall control

    The Liberal Democrats are celebrating a shock result in Horsham which has left the town with a hung council. The ruling Conservatives - who went into the election with a clear majority and 24 councillors - were expected to romp home. But at the death,

  • Snore and you sleep alone

    If there is one thing guaranteed to put a strain on any relationship, it is whether one of the couple snores, leaving the other to toss and turn all night. Siobhan Ryan speaks to one woman who says a special mouthwash is the answer. After 32 years of

  • Reducing the risk factors

    Irregular, heavy, painful or multiple periods are not uncommon in women in England. In India, many young and old women in semi-rural and urban areas prefer to treat any problems of uterine bleeding naturally with Ayurvedic medicine and Yoga. Teenagers

  • Beauty that's just skin deep

    Natural skin beauty can be affected by exposure to weather, pollution, direct sunlight, chemical sprays and repeated washing with soap and detergents. The vitality and suppleness of the skin depends on its ability to retain oil and moisture and over-exposure

  • Let Zippers show the way

    People recovering from major heart surgery are usually advised to watch their diet and not to overdo things but the benefits of support from others can be limited. Siobhan Ryan speaks to a man who has had surgery and now spends his time helping others

  • Special report from India

    Coimbatore in the south of India is a unique place renowned for its authentic traditional ayurvedic medicine. The Arya Vaidya Hospital is particularly famous for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and chronic back problems with sciatica. The World Health

  • How we can stop feeling so miserable

    One of the most common complaints I hear these days is: "Doctor, I cannot sleep. Can you give me something to help me sleep". Over recent years,the use of tranquillisers has shot up as doctors may not have anything else to offer. It is not easy to live

  • Friendly face of Crusaders

    Coming to terms with an accident that has left a person with an facial injury or illness that affects their appearance can be traumatic time. And it leaves some people unsure of where to turn for help. Siobhan Ryan speaks to an organisation that provides

  • Adur District Council: Con hold

    The Conservatives are celebrating in Adur after snatching four seats from their rivals. Three of the gains were made at the expense of Labour and one of the council's five Independent seats also fell to the Tories. The biggest blow of the night was the

  • The spirit of Ayurvedic medicine

    With many celebrities and royalties going for Ayurvedic therapy and treatment, there is an increasing awareness and interest in Ayurveda. Ayurvedic medicine dates back to around 2500BC. The University of Taxilla in Northern India was the first university

  • Success out of suffering

    Thousands of people in Sussex are affected by ME or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Siobhan Ryan speaks to an organisation that is dedicated to providing support for sufferers and raising awareness of the condition. About 900 adults and children in the county

  • Convict tried to offload blame

    Child sex fiend Russell Bishop tried to blame Roy Whiting for crimes he committed. The Brighton roofer contacted the Sarah Payne inquiry team from prison saying: "I told you I'm innocent." The 35-year-old paedophile was cleared of murdering nine-year-olds

  • Dealing with the fall-out

    The break up of a relationship is a traumatic time for the couple involved but the strains and stresses can also have an impact on the health and well-being of any children involved. Siobhan Ryan speaks to a team of workers who help young people get through

  • How to beat the effects of dizziness

    With the recent spate of virus infections, a lot of people have suffered from dizziness and vertigo and often buzzing in the ears. There are several causes of dizziness and vertigo. One of the common causes is infection of the inner ear by a virus called

  • Sarah trial: Accused in court

    The man accused of killing eight-year-old Sarah Payne appeared in the dock at Lewes Crown Court today. Mechanic Roy Whiting, 41, formerly of St Augustine Road, Littlehampton, is charged with kidnapping Sarah from a country lane in July last year. Whiting

  • Sarah trial starts again

    A new jury in the Sarah Payne murder case was today sworn in, hours after the trial was halted and the first jury discharged. The hearing was stopped at 11.10am, a day and a half into the prosecution opening of the case against the defendant Roy Whiting

  • Relatives relive Sarah's last moments

    Sarah Payne's family today relived the last moments of their daughter's life, for the second time. Prosecution barrister Timothy Langdale QC outlined details of the kidnap and murder of the eight-year-old schoolgirl to a new jury. Sarah's father, Michael

  • Hair led to killer, jury told

    A single blonde hair from Sarah Payne's head proves Roy Whiting was her killer, a court heard. The hair was found on a red sweatshirt seized from Whiting's Fiat Ducato van when he was arrested the day after eight-year-old Sarah disappeared on July 1 last

  • Face of the accused

    This is the man accused of kidnapping eight-year-old Sarah Payne from a Sussex field and murdering her. Mr Justice Curtis made a ruling at Lewes Crown Court allowing the media to show the image of Roy Whiting, 42, formerly of St Augustine Road, Littlehampton

  • Poll shock for ruling parties

    The ruling parties on three Sussex councils have tumbled from power in a night of mixed fortunes and big-name casualties at the polls. Labour lost control of Brighton and Hove, the Tories lost their grip on Horsham and the Lib Dems no longer have a majority

  • Jury hears portrait of a loner

    Roy Whiting was a loner with few friends, the jury in the Sarah Payne murder trial heard today. Self-employed builder Douglas Wawman employed Whiting as a builder's labourer for several jobs in the Littlehampton area from July 1999, Lewes Crown Court

  • Suspect 'cleaned up his act'

    Roy Whiting changed his appearance from scruffy to "steam cleaned" after Sarah Payne was snatched, a court heard. A builder who employed Whiting told Lewes Crown Court that when he met the 42-year-old on July 2 last year he had dramatically changed his

  • Agony that won't go away

    From the day their daughter went missing Sarah's family have rarely been out of the media spotlight. They have had two specially-trained officers assigned to support them and their family. When the blaze of publicity following Whiting's conviction dies

  • Police scoured suspect's flat

    The flat of the man accused of murdering schoolgirl Sarah Payne was scoured "with a fine-tooth comb", a court heard today. Scenes of crime officers removed 433 items from Roy Whiting's home in St Augustine Road, Littlehampton, in the days after he was

  • Clothes provide crucial link, jury hears

    Items of clothing alleged to link defendant Roy Whiting to eight-year-old Sarah Payne were identified in court today. Shane Gething told Lewes Crown Court that a red sweatshirt, checked padded shirt and a clown-patterned curtain were in a white van sold

  • Some personal advice to hold your breath for

    Bad odour in the breath (halitosis) is a common, unpleasant complaint and often makes one self-conscious. But can also cause significant social disability in middle age, according to Professor Crispian Scully from the International Centre for Excellence

  • Trial hears evidence queried

    Scientific evidence in the Sarah Payne murder trial remains strong despite doubts raised about possible contamination, a jury heard. At Lewes Crown Court yesterday Sally O'Neill QC, defending Roy Whiting, questioned the reliability of each piece of evidence

  • No comment on murder charge, court told

    The man accused of killing Sarah Payne remained silent when he was formally charged with her murder, a court heard. Roy Whiting was arrested for the third time during the investigation into the eight-year-old schoolgirl's death on February 6, more than

  • Sarah jury will not visit abduction scene

    The jury in the trial of Roy Whiting will not visit the scene where Sarah Payne was abducted. Mr Justice Richard Curtis refused an application by the jury to visit the spot in Kingston Gorse, near Littlehampton, where Sarah was abducted on July 1 last

  • Sarah's last steps watched on video

    Sarah Payne's mother and father watched in silence as videos retracing their daughter's last known movements were played in court yesterday. In the days after eight-year-old Sarah went missing, detectives took her two older brothers back to the cornfield

  • Sarah accused: I wasn't there

    Roy Whiting was sitting in a park watching the sun set at the time Sarah Payne was abducted, he said today. Whiting, who denies kidnapping and murdering the schoolgirl, spoke for the first time in public today about his movements on the day she was snatched

  • Thief put trial at risk

    Roy Whiting's trial was put in jeopardy before it began when a drug addict stole his defence papers and sold them for £5,000. Cocaine user Christopher Branscombe, 20, of Milton Road, Haywards Heath, pinched the documents while working on a computer programme

  • I have nothing to hide - Sarah accused

    The man accused of snatching and killing Sarah Payne said the evidence linking him to her disappearance was all "coincidence". Roy Whiting, 42, spent five hours in the witness box at Lewes Crown Court yesterday answering questions about his activities

  • Timeline: The search for Sarah

    For two weeks, the hunt for missing Sarah Payne dominated the national news. JULY 1, 2000: Sarah vanishes after leaving a field in Kingston Gorse, East Preston, where she has been playing with her brothers and sister. She was last seen at 7.45pm, 150

  • Whole issue of better health

    The community is waking up and guiding politicians and policy makers towards enlightenment. We all know that a healthy nation can only be made from healthy individuals. Really true health must address the whole person, the whole community, the whole nation

  • Sarah accused was "on the prowl"

    Roy Whiting was "on the prowl" hunting for children on the night Sarah Payne vanished, a court heard. Summing up the prosecution's case at Lewes Crown Court today, Timothy Langdale, QC, said evidence had built a jigsaw which provided a "compelling picture

  • Child's play is really about learning

    "It's child's play" is a frequently-used expression, relegating an activity to a level children would refer to as "easy peasy". But is that valid? For children, what we call play, can be a very demanding and significant activity, requiring the mastery

  • Getting your child ready for school

    School. You can't get away from it. It's not just the advertising. It's the school run, the traffic jams and the streams of five-year-olds in oversized clothes approaching the school gates with trepidation. If you have a three-yearold, all this probably

  • When faddy becomes food phobic

    At children's parties, four-year-old Annie Jones furtively scans the room to make sure none of her friends are watching her. She will try to swallow a dollop of blancmange or maybe a tiny scoop of jelly but she's only doing it to appear normal. Once away

  • Look at toys through a child's eyes

    What makes a child happy? As any parent will tell you, the plastic toys that are hyped on television do have their place. After all, who hasn't given in to the temptation of buying a toy as a quick fix in times of stress? But, in some cases, they can

  • Check out your tax entitlements childcare choices

    Remember those post-war movies in which mum stayed at home with the children, baking cakes and organising picnics? While the lucky few in this position might quibble about the details - including the dying art of home-baking - for many families, this

  • MMR confusion must end

    Concern over the MMR vaccine shows no sign of going away. It is clear many of those parents persuaded to opt for the triple jab for their children are not convinced of its safety. They are swayed more by the balance of probability than by the absence

  • Get in touch with your baby's needs

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    When the first youngsters sat their AS-Level papers last summer, the Government trumpeted that the exams would broaden the post-16 curriculum. Instead of narrowing their options at 16, most would now go on to take four or five subjects at AS-Level, rather

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    The policeman said to Sarah Payne's parents: "I'm sorry to have to tell we have found a body. We believe it is Sarah." At that moment Sarah's brothers and sisters Lee, 13, Luke, 11, and five-year-old Charlotte came running in from the lounge in floods

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    Sooner or later, Jane O'Byrne is going to have to make her mind up about the MMR triple vaccine. Like many parents of young children, Jane, from East Sussex, has strong doubts about the three-inone measles, mumps and rubella jab. After reading stories

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    I was delighted to attend a lecture on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) recently given by a GP colleague who works in gynaecology. It was refreshing to hear the clinical evidence and feedback from women taking natural products containing phytoestrogens