World Health Day

My approach to health can be summed up as looking after my Mind, Body, and Spirit. Those three things all work together to keep us well. If I feel ill I will check my herbal remedies books, like the one above, and see what they suggest. I have also consulted Medical Herbalists who, as the name suggests, have medical training as well as herbal training. If I have a physical ailment, such as a pain in my neck, I consult Diana Cooper's book, Transform Your Life, to see why I have the pain, and how to fix the issue behind the pain. Doctors have always been the last resort, for me, as I haven't found them to be open-minded about alternative therapies. However, there has been quite a big shift in this area with cancer treatment centres offering reiki, for example, and I hope this continues. I'm currently reading Dr. Gemma Newman's book Get Well Stay Well. She is a GP who cares about each of her patients holistically, and she is plant-based too! This is an excellent book which has been extremely well-researched. You can follow her on instagram: @plantpowerdoctor

The books I've mentioned work for me, but they won't be everyone's cup of tea. I think we can all agree, though, that looking after our health (mental and physical) as much as we can is essential for us to thrive. I love walking my dog but I forget about stretching before/after exercise, and that is so important. I'm not a huge fan of gardening, but I sleep much better after a bit of that kind of physical, outdoor exercise. Meditation helps to quieten my mind and centre me, and I do practice gratitude most days, and try to be kind, and find joy every day. I don't always succeed in all of this!