A book everyone should have at home

OME Doctor” is a book that everyone should have at hand in the house. Nowadays, we are more aware of health issues than ever before but the bewildering array of self-help advice leaves us confused and we often decide not to call or see a doctor for minor complaints. The author, Dr. Michael Peters, an experienced General Practitioner and Consulting Medical Editor to the British Medical Association has written a simple home reference that can easily be used when a family member is not feeling well and needs medical advice:

“It is important to empower people by giving them clear information to enable them to make sensible decisions about their health. I also feel that people should be better informed so that they can make lifestyle changes that can help prevent disease”.

Home Doctor is divided into three main sections. The first covers 150 common conditions for which home treatment is often appropriate. The second section focuses on basic first- aid treatments for minor and more serious emergencies and the final section, A- Z of Drug and Natural Remedies brings further information about remedies mentioned by the author in previous articles.

Common conditions are the core of the book. This section covers general symptoms such as fever, itching, tiredness to mention but a few. It is followed by the most prevalent infectious diseases as well as conditions related to the different parts of the body such as skin, hair, eye, mouth, nose, throat, head, chest and abdominal problems. Finally, specific problems affecting men, women, children and babies are dealt with in their own sections.

Browsing through the list of common conditions, one comes across plenty of useful recommendations which are also easy to follow. If you are feeling dizzy or faint, the first thing you should do is either sit down and put your head down to improve the blood flow to your brain or lie down and raise your legs on a chair or cushion. Then, you breathe slowly and deeply and if it has been a long time since you last ate, you can take a sugary snack but not something containing artificial sweeteners.

For those among us who have difficulty sleeping, the author reminds us we should always keep the bedroom quiet and dark and we should clearly not watch TV. Herbal medication containing valerian, hops, passionflower and chamomile can help relax and promote restful sleep.

If we feel depressed, or if we suffer mood swings, we can take St. John’s Wort available in the form of tablets. This popular herbal remedy appears to be as effective as some prescription antidepressants.

Furthermore, it is also important to know that Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) which are found in olive oil, walnuts and oily fish such as salmon and mackerel play an important part in forming healthy cells and nerve tissue. A group known as omega-3 EFAs may also help regulate hormones and brain chemicals that control mood, and can help to reduce symptoms of depression.

If you have dandruff it is best not to blow-dry your hair because it can aggravate it and you should also avoid alcohol-based hair products as well as hair sprays which tend to dry out the scalp. Moreover, mousses, gels and dyes may cause irritation and increase dandruff.

Did you know you can speed your recovery by taking zinc, and relieve the worst symptoms of a cold by taking Echinacea in the form of capsules? This herb is most effective when it is taken at the start of a cold. Echinacea is also believed to help the body fight infections.

And what should we do to stop a nosebleed? Although they look alarming, they can be stopped within 5 to 10 minutes. The technique is easy and consists of two steps. First you must lean forward or sit down, if you are feeling faint, and then lean slowly forward. At this point, you firmly pinch the soft part of your nose for 5-10 minutes and breathe through the mouth. If bleeding persists after 10 minutes, pinch for another 5-10 minutes. And if this doesn’t work, seek medical help.

If you are prone to migraines, you might be interested to take feverfew capsules. This garden herb can reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks. And ginger may help to prevent or relieve nausea in conditions such as motion sickness. To prevent travel sickness, you can take ginger in the form of capsules, sweets or tea or even fresh and crystallized, thirty minutes before the journey.

Reading “Home Doctor” not only tells us when we should consult a doctor but it also explains how to treat common ailments with step by step photographs and practical tips. It feels like having your own physician on call 24x7!